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~tate of \!tennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 995
HOUSE BILL NO. 1956
By Representatives Alexander, Raper, Littleton, Rudder, McCalmon, Gary Hicks,
Williams, Faison, White, Marsh, Slater, Travis, Boyd, Grills, Zachary, Scarbrough,
Russell, Tim Hicks, Brock Martin, Vital, Gant, Lynn, Carringer, Maberry, Darby, Doggett,
Helton-Haynes, Freeman, Lamberth, Gillespie, Cochran, Moody, Howell, Hawk, Farmer,
Renea Jones, Sherrell, Moon, Harris, Dixie, Parkinson, Crawford, Mitchell, Hale, Pearson,
Bricken, Davis, Powell, Camper, Terry, Wright, Capley, Glynn, Powers, Chism, Hakeem,
Hemmer, Love, Clemmons
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2081
By Senators Watson, Gardenhire, Bowling, Crowe, Hensley, Pody, Rose
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and
Title 71 , relative to step therapy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3501(1), is amended by deleting
"stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer, metastatic blood cancer, or treatment of such cancers"
and substituting "cancer or the treatment of cancer".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3501, is amended by deleting
subdivision (10).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(1) Notwithstanding this section, and except as provided in subdivision (h)(3), a
health benefit plan that provides coverage for cancer and associated conditions shall not
require use of a step therapy protocol before the health benefit plan provides coverage
of an approved prescription drug to an enrollee who has received a diagnosis of cancer.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(2), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(5), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer and metastatic blood".
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(6), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood" in subdivision (B) and (C).
SECTION 7. The commissioner of commerce and insurance and the commissioner of
health may promulgate rules to effectuate this act. The rules must be promulgated in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 8. This act takes effect January 1, 2027, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to policies or agreements entered into, renewed, or amended on or after that date.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1956
PASSED: April 20. 2026
C?~---
CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RANDY MCNAILY
SPEAKER OF THE SEN~E
Ma~ lj~ APPROVED this
day of 2026
~ C!.J.
BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.