Bill > SB0436

This bill aims to promote the use of biosimilar drugs in Tennessee as a cost-saving measure across multiple state healthcare programs and regulations. A biosimilar is defined as a biological product licensed under federal law that is not discontinued in the FDA's "Purple Book" database, which is essentially a near-identical version of a brand-name biological medication. The bill allows health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations to require patients to try a biosimilar or interchangeable biological product before covering a more expensive branded prescription drug. It modifies several sections of Tennessee Code to include biosimilars in various healthcare decision-making processes, such as adding biosimilars as a factor for the TennCare pharmacy advisory committee when recommending drugs for the state's preferred drug list. The bill also updates language in multiple state code sections to explicitly recognize and include biosimilars, potentially making these more affordable alternatives more accessible to patients while giving healthcare providers and insurers more flexibility in prescribing and covering medications. The legislation takes effect immediately upon becoming law, with the stated intent of promoting public welfare through potentially reduced healthcare costs.

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https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0436&ga=114