04/21/2026
From the Tennessee Pharmacists Association:
“TPA APPLAUDS GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S POSITIVE VOTE ON SB 2040/HB 1959
Today marks a monumental moment for pharmacy in Tennessee. The Freedom, Access and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy (FAIR Rx) Act (SB 2040 / HB 1959) took a critical step forward, bringing us closer than ever to meaningful reform and a fairer pharmacy marketplace in our state.
With this week’s action at the Capitol, the General Assembly - passing the legislation with a 24-9 vote in the Senate yesterday and a 86-7 vote in the House today - made clear that it recognizes the urgent need to address the unchecked conflicts of interest created by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). As you know, the FAIR Rx Act would prohibit PBMs from owning or operating pharmacies in Tennessee, closing a loophole that has allowed PBMs to inflate drug costs, limit patient choice, and steer patients to their own affiliated pharmacies - often at the expense of independently-owned and other community pharmacies.
This progress is especially significant given the scale of the opposition. PBMs and their allies spent more than $7 million and hired over 60 additional lobbyists on an aggressive and misleading campaign to protect a rigged system. Despite that pressure, we are deeply grateful to the legislators who stood strong and chose to put Tennessee patients, pharmacists, and communities first. Their leadership reflects a commitment to transparency, fairness, and access to quality care…
Tennessee patients deserve a health care system where patient choice, access, and outcomes come before corporate profit. Today’s progress on the FAIR Rx Act brings us one step closer to that goal — and together, we will see it through.
Stay engaged. Stay loud. This momentum belongs to you.”