Cempa Community Care Applauds Tennessee Legislature For Protecting 340B
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Cempa Community Care, a Chattanooga-based community health organization, applauds the Tennessee Legislature for passing SB1617/HB1398, a bill that, if signed by Governor Bill Lee, would protect patients and community health groups across the state by safeguarding the integrity of the federal government’s 340B Drug Pricing Program. This program, administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration, “enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.”
Last year, Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) and Rep. Esther Helton (R-East Ridge) paved the way to advance Section 1 of this bill, but it was designated to summer study for further review. SB1617/HB1398, a more comprehensive reform bill, was introduced in this legislative session by Senator Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Helton. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Lee and will await his signature to become law.