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HB1956 • 2026

Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to step therapy.

Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Alexander, Watson
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on the extent of coverage or types of cancer included.

Expanding Cancer Treatment Coverage

This bill changes Tennessee laws to allow people diagnosed with any type of cancer to get their prescribed medicine without going through a step therapy protocol.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that health plans must cover prescription drugs for anyone diagnosed with cancer, not just those with advanced or blood cancers.
  • Allows people to get their prescribed medicine without going through a step therapy process if they have any type of cancer.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People diagnosed with cancer who are covered by health plans in Tennessee.
  • Insurance companies and agents that provide health coverage for cancer treatments.

Terms To Know

Step therapy
A process where a patient must try less expensive or newer drugs before getting the prescribed medicine, even if it's not working well.
Health benefit plan
An insurance policy that covers medical expenses and treatments for its members.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much coverage must be provided or what types of cancer are included.
  • It is unclear if the changes will affect existing policies before January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  2. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  4. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 90, Nays 1, PNV 4

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 4/7/2026

  9. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/30/2026

  11. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Government Operations Committee

  12. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 3/24/2026

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Insurance Committee to 3/24/2026

  15. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 3/17/2026

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Insurance Committee

  19. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/17/2026

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Insurance Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  21. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Insurance Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  23. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026

  24. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Insurance Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  25. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Insurance Subcommittee

  28. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Insurance Committee - Government Operations for Review

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2081
By Watson

HOUSE BILL 1956
By Alexander
HB1956
011455
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8;
Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to
step therapy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3501(1), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer, metastatic blood cancer, or treatment of such
cancers" and substituting "cancer or the treatment of cancer".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3501, is amended by deleting
subdivision (10).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(1) Notwithstanding this section, and except as provided in subdivision (h)(3), a
health benefit plan that provides coverage for cancer and associated conditions shall not
require use of a step therapy protocol before the health benefit plan provides coverage
of an approved prescription drug to an enrollee who has received a diagnosis of cancer.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(2), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(5), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer and metastatic blood".
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-7-3502(h)(6), is amended by
deleting "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood" in subdivision (B) and (C).

- 2 - 011455

SECTION 7. The commissioner of commerce and insurance and the commissioner of
health may promulgate rules to effectuate this act. The rules must be promulgated in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 8. This act takes effect January 1, 2027, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to policies or agreements entered into, renewed, or amended on or after that date.