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Legal Guidance

The TMA offers aggressive pursuit of physician rights in every legal and regulatory forum, as well as personal access to a multitude of legal services including the online Law Guide. TMA health care lawyers advocate in court, represent medicine before state and federal regulatory boards and committees, and offer legal and compliance guidance*, hospital medical staff bylaw review, and more.

Members may pose medico-legal, state regulatory or practice management questions to the TMA by phone or email. These are benefits available exclusively to members, and staff is only available to respond to issues submitted by TMA members. The TMA Legal Department cannot provide legal advice or representation to individual members or practices.

 

*Due to its tax-exempt status, the TMA cannot provide legal advice or representation to individual members.

 

Healthcare Law Guide Directory 
TMA’s popular guide to Tennessee health law and practice management for members. This guide is our signature resource for medico-legal information.

Law Guide 

No Surprises Act
Congress passed the NSA in 2020, and it applies to all insurance plans (including ERISA plans) except for Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE. TMA created a series of articles to discuss these rules. 

No Surprises Act
 

Doctor Shopping Guide 
This guide helps physicians meet their responsibility to report drug-seeking patients under Tennessee law.

View the Guide

Opioid Resource Center
Complementing the Doctor Shopping Guide, our Opioid Resource Center includes Federal and State guidelines, patient-facing posters and pocket cards, education links and member-only guidance.

View the Toolkit
 

Scope Chart for Clinical Staff
This guide assists a physician in determining which procedures or services may be performed by the clinical staff (e.g., LPN, medical assistant) in his or her office. This chart is based on current Tennessee laws, rules and medical board policy.

View the Scope Chart

Treatment of Minors Guide
TMA created this resource based on logging years of calls to the legal department from pediatric and other medical practices with questions regarding the treatment of minor patients and the rights and duties of parents and guardians for minors under their legal responsibility.

View the Treatment Guide

 

Physician Employment Contract Checklist

Our Physician Employment Contract Checklist can help physicians avoid common pitfalls when signing an employment contract.

Physician Employment Contract Checklist

TMA Physician Contigency Plan
The TMA Physician Contingency Plan helps protect members and their patients in the event of an unexpected inability to continue practice.

View the Plan

 

Retiring Physician Guide

A guide for physicians considering retirement from medical practice.

Retiring Physician Guide

 

Collaborating Physician Toolkit

This toolkit will help physicians remain in compliance with regulations governing their role collaborating with advanced practice nurses or physician assistants.

View the Toolkit