Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, removes the aggregate penalty limits for violations of law concerning pharmacy benefits managers; provides that a pharmacy benefits manager regulated under law relative to pharmacy benefits managers is subject to the insurance laws relative to timely reimbursement of health insurance claims and its requirements for timing of payments to pharmacists; provides that a violation of the prompt pay standards is governed by the penalties set out in insurance laws relative to timely reimbursement of health insurance claims. - Amends TCA Title 56.
SB 881 removes limits on penalties for pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that fail to pay pharmacies promptly under Tennessee law. It requires PBMs to pay "clean claims" (complete, error-free claims) within 30 days for paper submissions and 14 days for electronic submissions, with interest accruing for late payments. The bill establishes tiered penalties: failing to pay 95% of clean claims triggers up to $10,000 in fines, 85% triggers $10,000-$100,000, and 60% triggers $100,000-$200,000. This directly affects PBMs (like those managing prescription drug benefits) and pharmacies that rely on timely payments from them.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed May 9, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2025 · House Apr 21, 2025
How they voted
35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 31, 2025
D
Democratic7
100% Yea
R
Republican28
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 9, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0285)
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0237)
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/18/2025
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/18/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Shane Reeves
RRepublican
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