Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As enacted, expands the prohibition, from stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer to any cancer, against a health benefit plan that provides coverage for cancer requiring the use of a step therapy protocol before the health benefit plan provides coverage for an approved prescription drug to an enrollee who has received a diagnosis of cancer. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
SB 2081 expands a Tennessee law that prohibits health insurance plans from requiring step therapy (trying less expensive treatments first) before covering approved cancer drugs. It removes the current restriction that only applied to "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer," instead applying the prohibition to **all cancer diagnoses**. This means cancer patients in Tennessee with insurance plans covering cancer treatment cannot be forced through step therapy protocols before accessing approved drugs. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed insurance policies.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Last action May 26, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 4/7/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bo Watson
RRepublican
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