TMA Supports Efforts to Curb Overprescribing
Physicians may be hearing about new legislation from the Governor’s office to tackle Tennessee’s prescription drug problem. The TMA strongly supports efforts to curb overprescribing and over-use of these medications.
Recent proposals have come from both the General Assembly and the office of Governor Bill Haslam that will impact the monitoring of pain pill prescriptions and strengthen our “doctor shopping” laws. Specifically, the Administration bill includes several items the TMA has advocated for and believes would greatly benefit medical practices.
Read the TMA's official statement on the Governor's legislation.
News Story Response
In Friday's Knoxville News Sentinel, the article, Haslam: Doctors should check database before prescribing pain pills, reported the TMA has concerns about the Governor’s legislation.
The TMA was not contacted by the Knoxville News Sentinel specifically regarding the release of the new legislative proposal and the comments were attributed from a previous discussion with a reporter. The TMA has made Gov. Haslam’s Administration aware of the issue and expressed our support for their efforts, as well as our appreciation for the voice the TMA has been afforded in the process, working closely with Comm. Dreyzehner and the safety workgroup.
The TMA will update members on our official position when officials have had an opportunity to more closely study the bill and determine how the legislation will affect doctors and their patients.