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Senators back bill requiring TennCare reports on psychotropic prescribing, including foster-care breakdowns
Summary
SB2255 will require TennCare, with the Departments of Health and Children's Services, to produce two de-identified annual reports on psychotropic prescriptions by age, number of distinct medications per person, county and total cost; a separate report will detail psychotropic use paid by TennCare for children in foster care. The committee adopted the amendment and sent the bill to the calendar.
Sen. Taylor explained SB2255, which would require TennCare, working with the Departments of Health and Children's Services, to produce two aggregate, de-identified reports each year about psychotropic drug prescribing: one statewide report (prescriptions by age group, number of distinct medications per person, county, population percentages and total cost) and one report focused on foster children paid for by TennCare (with age breakdowns, counts for long-term use, county and cost). He emphasized privacy protections, saying the reports would be "de-identified per HIPAA regulations."
Senators asked technical questions about data sources and whether providers would need to supply new information; members were told TennCare will rely on existing administrative and billing data rather than imposing additional provider reporting. The committee passed the amendment that makes the bill and voted to send SB2255 to the calendar (9–0).
