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Member Alert: New Laws Effective July 1

May 20, 2022
 

The following new laws enacted by the 2022 General Assembly are effective July 1, 2022 and may be of special interest to physicians since they could require action or reporting. Others are for information only. Contact the TMA Legal Department at 800-659-1862, ext. 1645 or legal@tnmed.org with any questions.

Action Required by Physicians

Minimum Wage PC 870
An employer in Tennessee must pay an employee no less than the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour). There are no exceptions to this requirement. This law preempts the federal law that allows a subminimum wage for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury.

Employee Immigration Status – E-verify PC 832
Employers with 35 or more full-time employees must use the E-verify System to verify the immigration status of all employees hired on or after January 1, 2023. Our Law Guide topic, E-verification of Employees, covers all the requirements of this law.

Wound Reporting PC 1094
Tennessee law requires health care providers to report certain wounds and injuries to law enforcement and in 2022 the legislature added fatal drug overdose to the list of wounds and injuries that must be reported. Review the Law Guide topic, Wound Reporting, to ensure you are in compliance with this law.

Opioid Antagonist PC 1061
A prescriber must offer an opioid antagonist prescription in certain situations. Review section XII. B. in our Law Guide topic, Prescriptions.

 

Information Only – No Reporting or Action Required by Physicians

Opioid Antagonist Prescriptions – SB2465 (PC not available)
Current law allows a licensed healthcare practitioner authorized to prescribe an opioid antagonist directly or by standing order to an individual at risk of a drug-related overdose or the family member of an individual at risk of an overdose. This law was amended to also allow a prescription or standing order to an organization, municipal or county entity, including, but not limited to, a center, recovery organization, hospital, school, harm reduction organization, homeless services organization, county jail, shelter, AIDS service organization, federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, health department, or treatment resource for the purpose of providing an opioid antagonist to an individual at risk or an overdose or to the family member of an individual at risk. TMA’s Law Guide topic, Emergency Medical Services, contains the details of this change to the law.