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Changes in regs for TN?

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Posted 10/29/2013 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
I have a cousin in TN that was telling me that they had a new state law going into effect that allows only 30day increments of opiates and benzodiazepenes?

Anyone hear anything about that? I know most states have gone to the 30 day only on narcotics but now the benzo's?

What happens with medical coverage that wont pay for monthly visits? Also ppl with no insurance that will cover pm and the discount you get for 90 days supply? All that's out the window?

What's next?

Vickie
Forum Moderator
Posted 10/29/2013 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
I found the new law, it is at the link below. I'm not sure if the 30 days applies to drs in Pain Management and 4 other, See SECTION 2, 63-1-402, (c) (!-5) below. Sorry I've got a drs appt today or I would have more time to read it. I've also included a link to info about it from the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP)


State of Tennessee-PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 430, SENATE BILL NO. 676
http://www.tn.gov/sos/acts/108/pub/pc0430.pdf

New Tennessee Law Limits Opioid and Benzodiazepine Dispensing-
http://iacprx.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=701
Posted 10/30/2013 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm.  For as long as I can recall, in both NH and MA, they would only fill 30 days worth of opiates and benzos.

M.

Posted 10/30/2013 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
While my doctor writes my Norco (formerly the Lortab) for 4 months worth of scripts at the time, they are not allowed to fill more than 30 days worth at the time. I can not get 90 days worth, even at a much better price. That's how it is here in SC

david
Posted 10/30/2013 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
I'm convinced they do it purely for the money.  Period.

Given most people on our types of medications can't get around that well, it's expensive to see our doctors and get our meds filled as it is, and it puts a huge strain on us to make extra appointments (every 30 days to see our doc to get a hard copy Rx) plus the price of three 30-days is never 1/3 of the 90 day value.

I think they're also trying to make it so difficult, for doctors and patients alike, to try and discourage the Rx of these medications because they are such a bother to maintain.  The more challenging they make it, they know already, they're going to be "able to lose patients" who can no longer fill these types of Rx's.

It's a political game of red tape.  Kind of like filing for Disability.  They figure if they make it hard enough, complicated enough, take away the privileges and benefits and convenience enough, they'll force many patients to d/c this type of care.

Just my $0.02

M.

Posted 10/30/2013 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
I agree Merrida, I know before the rescheduled lortab they could use one prescription with refills and benzodiazepenes are that way. You couldn't fill more then a months worth at a time.

I guess TN doesn't want even that to happen now. Folks that are prescribed Valium or such by a psych Dr will now have to play the 30 day Dr visit like CPers, at least in TN.

What's going to happen if the insurance companies decide paying $250 every month for someone to see a specialist is costing them billions a year,? Take someone seeing PM on lortab, they were going say 4 times a year and their scripts were written with 2 refills, which covered until they went back in 3 months. Now their insurance company has to pay for 12 office visits a year versus 4? That's tripled!

2 things are bound to happen, either they're going to raise the cost of insurance or they will limit the number of visits they will pay for leaving the patients to cover part out of pocket.

There has to be some fallback here as I cannot believe the insurance companies are going to lose they're profit margin by that much.

Throw in those Drs who drug test before every prescription and those expensive labs are also going from 4 a year to 12.

David actually has an advantage, I hate calling CA an advantage!, but your appointments would actually be billed and classified under the cancer part of an insurance policy whereas mine or Merrida's would most likely bill under PM or specialty visits.

Im just waiting for the insurance companies to figure out what these regs and rule changes will mean for them.
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