[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6630530,"mediaKeyId","2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316","parentId",2691825,"title","Subcommittee adopts bill to block accumulator schemes and protect patient assistance funds","audioSeconds",157,"startMs",1666000,"endMs",1823000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316&start=1666&end=1823","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316/thumbnail_1666000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630530/Tennessee/Subcommittee-adopts-bill-to-block-accumulator-schemes-and-protect-patient-assistance-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630530-bb3acf4ff676a72778643022a1fbe769/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985015&Signature=clXzOmt8DHZ38eNp66H4jweso603kyRl33Vzs3y~XfCg-GUsf728TsJL43FBEwdB2zwUu9YShw~bCws5bDRGyoKm42qU6mo0VwXUNfMUWnEyo7hhONU9QNOhe-5KhCp5CiCWH5LBZCrqGvJzeDJkRJJ~y7wZAVombGzI4Fn~HzwuE4zpJOTzmCV-I739-iJFJaQHUu68RYnNx7JEIR7LpQdKwxY4xfX3jzaiv2kmveUV1mFGJ6QDp2NlbElHRGC1YPihHsvwQCeFR5ME5tRdiqsqCHzidxOLmCUtdeKORVFPBN3vDd7ZqlSqzSlhFKPg-HFkZy7L1LwVQb9txz05ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN House of Representatives","date","2025-03-19T16:41:07.85Z","article","The Insurance Subcommittee on Wednesday approved House Bill 870, which would prohibit entities from using patient assistance programs — sometimes described as maximizers, accumulators, optimizers or alternate funding programs — to prevent patient assistance payments from applying to a patient’s deductible or other out-of-pocket expenses.

Chairman Rudder, sponsor of House Bill 870, said prior legislation attempted to stop such schemes but new methods repeatedly arise. “No matter what you call the program, no entity should be permitted to engage in any activity which prohibits or restricts patient assistant funds from being applied to that patient's deductible and out of pocket expenses,” Rudder said. He also said Section 2 of the bill addresses an Internal Revenue Service issue related to health savings accounts and earlier accumulator legislation.

Committee members asked no recorded questions. The subcommittee adopted the amendment and voted 6-0 to advance the bill to the full Insurance Committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Insurance Subcommittee- March 19, 2025- House Hearing Room 1","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 870 would prohibit entities from restricting patient assistance program funds from applying to a patient's deductible and out-of-pocket expenses and would address an IRS issue related to health savings accounts. The subcommittee approved the bill and sent it to the full Insurance Committee.","taxTitle","Insurance, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",35385,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630535,"Panel approves measure to remove step-therapy barriers for metastatic cancer treatments",135,1529000,1664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316&start=1529&end=1664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316/thumbnail_1529000.jpg","/articles/6630535/Tennessee/Panel-approves-measure-to-remove-step-therapy-barriers-for-metastatic-cancer-treatments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630535-28fc55ae779d093d85e45afb7cfa6ad1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985015&Signature=Cee33cWKh5M8wsYD4kapA2YEpf34JOGC9MXa73auuiaNny-buSJ8U1FTFU5idHR2~NmSS~-TY2Q9h7xH1kywYgMVowOF7oWnCcP9UjbjhZ70TtSg8G9ooVyhPY1FD4b-uSU5PzN5iOMTuKeucHXkCPUsRIye350DPa3H9E70skpKwrvDGULMdjYDIo9gdqmKSVunIW3pcELALAKMX18~7BtuK8G9D3m6mXsv4JmS50CtqTvh9cZShVmP~t5as2mNK~9R0MPZAov~DKv1RBAMzaNI3f-TaT1vXrpf6UxEt5g1RQGtgpsJvRuYWjfscYzcoUUETx8Rj88KyMZ8vPfGEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Insurance Subcommittee voted Wednesday to advance House Bill 858, which would remove step-therapy requirements for patients with metastatic cancer so clinicians can prescribe the drug they determine is appropriate without prior insurer-required step trials.

Chairman Alexander, sponsor of House Bill 858, described personal encounters with patients who waited for insurer approval. “In the last year, I've dealt with 3 loved ones with cancer,” he said. “Already lost 2. Had kidney cancer. Niece, 37 years old, with a glioblastoma brain tumor. 2 weeks ago, she did not have approval for the latest treatment that she needed to have. 10 days, this child waited.”

Alexander told the subcommittee removing step therapy is intended to reduce potentially life-threatening delays in care. Committee members did not ask follow-up questions on the record. The subcommittee voted 5-0 to forward the bill to the full Insurance Committee.

No implementation timeline or fiscal estimate was provided during the subcommittee discussion.","House Bill 858 would remove step-therapy requirements for metastatic cancer to allow oncologists to prescribe the first-line drug their patients need. The subcommittee advanced the bill after sponsor testimony describing delays in access to care.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630540,"Subcommittee approves bill to require insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetics",115,1362000,1477000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316&start=1362&end=1477","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316/thumbnail_1362000.jpg","/articles/6630540/Tennessee/Subcommittee-approves-bill-to-require-insurance-coverage-for-activity-specific-prosthetics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630540-37d1d7e163ff219ab5589f1aad48cf21/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985015&Signature=K3qaihyceVgOCil7QQb893FD1lQ1edAcAPrGEmXx5x0NsobyoyF1JJs1lUFpYp8O8Fvxrodt2TzhYgQGJBces4keFIj1Ckwwt0OlicG7TWbQ89nH54rX6T9RGKc8VOBjGqDwxohyV9FkoMJsKSOSET9GMlGG6bzK6RcMrDv0I4niZLeFokrkRFEDI77JD0AGIagGIa~JRFAILz-iPkJVbVpqf-UZh5RYe~iyTakn1UxcEsXFplNa7oDfIP2QkEX1KVEErYWI2r65~4ngH0SKfEEJGsYU2es7c~eFsnfiCS7Us34WQ6O9oHGY-4sPVC9MGiyyQf7YIniTicuwreBnPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Insurance Subcommittee voted Wednesday to advance House Bill 406, which would require private insurers to cover activity-specific prosthetic and orthotic devices that insurers have sometimes deemed not medically necessary.

Chairman Martin, sponsor of House Bill 406, said the bill seeks to make movement and physical activity accessible to Tennesseans living with limb loss or limb differences. “Tennessee's living with limb loss and limb differences are unable to afford or access life changing prosthetics for physical activity and exercise due to lack of insurance coverages at times, not being not medically necessary at times, or high out of pocket cost,” he said.

Martin told the committee that TennCare and Medicare are not affected by the bill, and that TennCare does not deny secondary devices currently. The sponsor said the bill is intended to allow children and adults to obtain activity-specific devices — for example, running-specific prosthetics rather than a single walking device — to avoid biomechanical injuries that can result when patients use a single device for multiple activities.

Committee members raised no questions and the measure passed on a 5-0 vote; the bill was sent to the full Insurance Committee for further consideration.","House Bill 406 would require insurers to cover activity-specific prosthetics and orthotic devices; sponsor said TennCare and Medicare are not impacted. The subcommittee voted to advance the bill to the full Insurance Committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630545,"Insurance subcommittee advances bill to hold pharmacy benefit managers to insurer prompt-pay standards",70,1264000,1334000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316&start=1264&end=1334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691825-34ab808f2b5e90d19fa777ae9ac95316/thumbnail_1264000.jpg","/articles/6630545/Tennessee/Insurance-subcommittee-advances-bill-to-hold-pharmacy-benefit-managers-to-insurer-prompt-pay-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630545-d43d5809f582d7257962099d1b4b423f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985015&Signature=i1jbcYB8FB1Ymo3slIBVFZVanqgFfidjqj10JnlVv43KeHKNyH2VeVH2XTQSLoDKVFKse~do~Nq-xgI8NfumKUkhbRk-jHq3k19m5UaUdBg8Ylj7GmRuFod5M~J2Zl0qLyapS3NClH~UAZFxtu7qtREYHWzk9riausxnnQBe9X0ywudfNtcaRyWQI0JDqoWfhusfSHzimdFrgw6V-TNLJiQm3R-K8h7Q1qauuFrmMvrCW0j1O7NP-zaXWI1Xf2WfdWIEwRcTYg8uPHWZrykpTL~tQk8YEfeduzMw87gi2nqZiWTdWv46uKVOKQ~NKDu3BCGQFJbE~V0BPcG-0sm5Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Insurance Subcommittee on Wednesday approved House Bill 1244, a measure aiming to hold pharmacy benefit managers to prompt-payment standards similar to those that apply to health insurers, and to remove statutory limits on individual and aggregate penalties for violations.

Chairman Martin, sponsor of House Bill 1244, told the subcommittee the bill “holds pharmacy benefit managers accountable to prompt pay standards similar to health insurers” and removes limits on penalties while allowing the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) to set penalties and increase them for repeat offenders.

The bill’s sponsor said the measure also gives TDCI flexibility to adjust penalties for repeat violations. No other legal sources or statutes were cited during the discussion. Committee members did not raise follow-up questions; the amendment to the bill was adopted and the panel voted 5-0 to advance the bill to the full Insurance Committee.

The measure will next be considered by the full Insurance Committee; no implementation timeline was provided during the subcommittee meeting.","The Insurance Subcommittee approved House Bill 1244 to require pharmacy benefit managers to meet prompt-payment standards like health insurers and to remove statutory caps on penalties, sending the measure to the full Insurance Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee adopts bill to block accumulator schemes and protect patient assistance funds

Panel approves measure to remove step-therapy barriers for metastatic cancer treatments

Subcommittee approves bill to require insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetics

Insurance subcommittee advances bill to hold pharmacy benefit managers to insurer prompt-pay standards