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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 659
SENATE BILL NO. 2255
By Taylor, Bowling, Crowe, Hensley, Johnson, Jackson, Harshbarger, Seal, Stevens, Rose,
Walley
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2389
By Brock Martin, Littleton, Reeves, Reneau, Chism, Hill, Moody, Warner, Capley, Tim Hicks, Davis,
Bricken
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to
psychotropic medication.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Bureau" means the bureau of TennCare; and
(2) "Psychotropic medication":
(A) Means a drug that exercises a direct effect upon the central
nervous system and that is capable of influencing and modifying behaviors;
and
(8) Includes:
(i) Antipsychotics;
(ii) Antidepressants;
(iii) Agents for control of mania and depression;
(iv) Antianxiety agents;·
(v) Psychomotor stimulants; and
(vi) Hypnotics.
(b) The bureau, in consultation with the department of health and the department of
children's services, shall publish no later than January 1, 2027, and biannually thereafter, two
(2) comprehensive statewide data reports on the use of psychotropic medication and the
psychotropic medication's associated costs. The data must be primarily derived from any
medical and pharmacy claims from the TennCare program, as described in this chapter, and,
to the extent authorized by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services, from
federal data sources.
(c) The first report must contain the number of persons prescribed at least one (1)
psychotropic medication, categorized by the following:
(1) Age groups, as follows:
(A) Birth to five (5) years of age;
SB 2255
(8) Six (6) to twelve (12) years of age;
(C) Thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years of age;
(D) Eighteen (18) to sixty-four (64) years of age; and
(E) Sixty-five (65) years of age and older;
(2) The number of distinct covered outpatient psychotropic medications paid
through the TennCare pharmacy benefit prescribed per person over the course of
one (1) year:
(A) One (1) to three (3);
(8) Four (4) to six (6);
(C) Seven (7) to ten (1 0);
(D) Eleven (11) to fourteen (14); and
(E) Fifteen (15) or more;
(3) The person's county of residence, unless de-identification measures are
needed as outlined in subsection (g);
(4) The percentages of the total TennCare population in each category in
subdivisions (c)(1 ), (2), and (3); and
(5) The total cost of psychotropic medications paid by the TennCare program,
as described in title 71, chapter 5, with separate subtotals for state funds and federal
funds, categorized by the same age, medication count, and county criteria as
described in this subsection (c), unless de-identification measures are needed as
outlined in subsection (g).
(d) The second report must contain the number of children in state custody who are
receiving foster care services as described in § 37-2-604 and who are prescribed
psychotropic medication when the covered outpatient medication is paid through the
TennCare pharmacy benefit, categorized by the following:
(1) Age groups, as follows:
(A) Birth to five (5) years of age;
(B) Six (6) to twelve (12) years of age; and
(C) Thirteen (13) to seventeen (1.7) years of age;
(2) The number of distinct psychotropic medications prescribed per child as
described in subdivision (d)(1) over the course of one (1) year when the child receives
the psychotropic medication for a period of ninety (90) days or longer:
(A) One (1) to three (3);
(8) Four (4) to six (6);
(C) Seven (7) to ten (1 0);
(D) Eleven (11) to fourteen (14); and
(E) Fifteen (15) or more;
(3) The person's county of residence, unless de-identification measures are
needed as outlined in subsection (g); and
(4) The total cost of psychotropic medications paid by the TennCare program,
as described in this chapter, with separate subtotals for state funds and federal funds,
categorized by the same· age, medication count,: and county criteria as described in
this subsection (d), unless de-identification measures are needed as outlined in
subsection (g).
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(e) Each report shall include comparative data for the immediately preceding two (2)
calendar years presented in tabular format.
(f) The initial report required by this section must be published as outlined in
subsection (b). Beginning July 1, 2027, biannual reports are due within ninety (90) days of
the end of each calendar year and the beginning of each state fiscal year. Within such
timelines, the bureau shall:
(1) Post both reports in a conspicuous, publicly accessible location on the
TennCare website; and
(2) Transmit official copies of both reports, including any executive summary
or recommendations, to the senate health and welfare committee and the committee
in the house of representatives with subject matter jurisdiction over health-related
matters.
(g) The reports must be prepared in aggregate and de-identified form to ensure
compliance with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.) and its implementing
regulations. Data included in the reports must be de-identified in accordance with 45 CFR
164.514 and must not include protected health information (PHI), personally identifiable
information, or any other confidential or federally protected data. The bureau shall ensure
that any TennCare member data, and any data relating to children in state custody receiving
foster care services described in § 37-2-604, is de-identified prior to publication and is
presented using statistical disclosure limitation techniques, including suppression of small
cell sizes, as necessary to prevent re-identification.
(h) The bureau, in consultation with the department of health and the department of
children's services, is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this section. The rules
must be promulgated in accordance with •the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act,
compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 2255
PASSED: March 16, 2026
LLY
SPEAKER OF THE siNATE
CAMER\!WSEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
~ day of
I Apr; APPROVED this j 2026
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