Legislative Update 2024

TAPA is pleased to announce that on May 28, Gov. Bill Lee signed HB2318/SB2136 and HB1862/SB1727 into law. Now that they are law, the bills have been assigned Public Chapter numbers. Many PAs have been asking what is next, and when will these new laws take effect. While everyone is excited about the changes, we are at the beginning of the process for both pieces of legislation.

Public Chapter 1018 enacts the PA Compact legislation.  The Compact needed seven (7) states to adopt enabling legislation and with Tennessee being the 12^th state, the PA Licensure Compact as been activated. The next steps of this process include: 1. forming a Compact Commission; 2. creating a Compact Data System: 3. Adopting any necessary rules to establish the application process in our state by the Board of PAs, and 4. opening applications for compact privileges to PAs. It is estimated that this process could take 18-24 months. At their meeting today, the Board of PAs appointed TAPA President Marie Patterson to serve as Tennessee’s commissioner to the Compact Commission. The Commission’s first meeting is scheduled for late September. The PA Licensure Compact website is an excellent resource to track the progress of this initiative and find answers to questions that PAs might have: https://www.pacompact.org/.

Public Chapter 1042 enacts the changes passed by the Legislature to the PA Practice Act. Before any sections of this new law takes effect, rules must be promulgated and adopted. There are two sets of rules that the Board of PAs is working on. The first set of rules will implement the Endorsement application and process, as well incorporating other sections of the new law. The Board of PAs expects to begin their work on these rules at their September meeting. The second set of rules will specifically address “collaborative agreements” that PAs with the endorsement will practice under instead of the traditional protocol. The initial rules addressing collaborative agreements will be promulgated and adopted by a task force made up of one (1) member from the board of medical examiners; one (1) member from the board of osteopathic examination; one (1) member from the board of pediatric medical examiners; and three (3) members from the board of physician assistants. Once the task force is established, hopefully by this fall, they will begin their work. The rulemaking process can be lengthy, with an estimated timeline of 12-18 months.

TAPA members with practice or regulatory questions can contact the TAPA office for assistance. 

How can Tennessee PAs get engaged in the legislative process?

1. Be a member of TAPA. Your membership dues help fund the Academy's activities, including hiring lobbyists and PR firms. 

2. Contribute to TAPA's Political Action Committee (PAC). TAPA's PAC makes donations to legislators and candidates who support PA practice. Running a successful campaign is expensive, and TAPA needs to support those candidates who support us. Consider setting up a monthly contribution that adds up to significant support by the end of the year.

3. Attend TAPA's PA Day on the Hill. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Put that on your calendar, ask for the day off from work, and plan to join your colleagues in Nashville as they lobby for change.

The Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned for the year. They will reconvene on Jan. 19, 2024, and TAPA has a lot of work to do before then. Stay tuned!