§ 63-1-157 — Statewide collaborative pharmacy practice

Tennessee § 63-1-157

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee
• Title: 63

Text

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Chief medical officer" means the chief medical officer for the department of health; (2) "Opioid antagonist" means a formulation of naloxone hydrochloride or another similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the United States food and drug administration for the treatment of a drug-related overdose; and (3) "Opioid antagonist training program" means a training program approved by the department of health related to opioid antagonist therapy. The training program shall include, but not be limited to, proper administration techniques, use, documentation, and quality assurance. (b) (1) The chief medical officer is authorized to implement a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement specific to opioid antagonist therapy with any pharmacist licensed in, and practicing in, this state. (2) A pharmacist licensed in, and practicing in, this state is authorized to dispense an opioid antagonist, in good faith, pursuant to a valid statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement executed by the chief medical officer. (3) Under a valid statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement authorized by the chief medical officer, an authorized pharmacist may dispense an opioid antagonist to: (A) A person at risk of experiencing a drug-related overdose; (B) A family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing a drug-related overdose. (4) Before a pharmacist enters into a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with the chief medical officer for the dispensing of an opioid antagonist, the pharmacist shall be able to provide documentation of completion of an opioid antagonist training program within the previous two (2) years. (5) The pharmacist shall maintain the collaborative pharmacy practice agreement in accordance with the requirements set forth in § 63-10-217 , and this agreement must be made available to the department of health upon request. (6) Any licensed pharmacist acting in good faith and with reasonable care, who dispenses an opioid antagonist to a person the pharmacist believes to be experiencing or at risk of experiencing a drug-related overdose, or who dispenses an opioid antagonist to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person experiencing or at risk of experiencing a drug-related overdose, is immune from disciplinary or adverse administrative actions under this title for acts or omissions during the dispensation of an opioid antagonist. (7) Any licensed pharmacist who dispenses an opioid antagonist pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) is immune from civil liability in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct for actions authorized by this section. (8) The chief medical officer shall be immune from disciplinary or adverse administrative actions under this title, as well as civil liability in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, for acts or omissions during the dispensing of an opioid antagonist by a pharmacist acting pursuant to a collaborative agreement established pursuant to this section.

Legislative History

Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 749, s 3, eff. 7/1/2022. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 749, s 2, eff. 7/1/2022. Added by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 596, s 1, eff. 3/10/2016.