Tennessee

Tennessee credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) I requires, at minimum, a high school diploma, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 6,000 hours of supervised experience. A LADC II must have a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health or a master’s degree in any field and complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience. Tenn. Code Ann. §68-24-601 and Tennessee Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) provide services to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public. Counselors prevent, diagnose and treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and associated disorders that interfere with mental health. LPCs also conduct assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans. Tenn. Gen. Rules §0450-01-.01(30)

While NPs in Tennessee are not authorized to prescribe buprenorphine-containing products to treat opioid use disorder, there is one NP who does possess a DEA waiver.  Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-11-311

As of August 2018, no PAs in Tennessee have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. In Tennessee, PAs are not permitted to prescribe buprenorphine-containing products to treat opioid use disorder. Licensed physicians are the only healthcare providers authorized to dispense buprenorphine-containing products for medication-assisted treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-11-311

The certification standards and procedures for peer recovery specialists are developed and administered by the state’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The standards include requirements for experience, training, examination and continued education.

NPs are authorized to sign physician orders for scope of treatment forms if they are recognized by the board of nursing as an advanced practice nurse to provide POLST treatment. Tenn. Code. Ann. § 68-11-224

Physician supervision is required. The physician has control and responsibility for prescriptive services rendered by the NP. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-7-123

NPs may prescribe Schedules II-V controlled substances upon receiving a certificate of fitness from the State Board of Nursing and adoption of physician supervisory rules. Schedules II-IV may only be prescribed after consultation with the physician. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-7-123

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Primary care providers are health care professionals capable of providing a wide variety of basic health services. Primary care providers include practitioners of family, general or internal medicine; pediatricians and obstetricians; nurse practitioners; midwives; and physician assistants in general or family practice. Tenn. Admin. Code §1200-13-13.01(98)

Optometrists may examine, diagnose, manage and treat conditions and diseases of the eye and eyelid, including lumps and bumps. Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-8-102(12)

Optometrists may use injections for anaphylaxis or an anaphylactic reaction as well as local anesthesia. Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-8-102(12)

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-8-102(12)

Pursuant to a written protocol, dental hygienists may provide preventive services, as outlined by law or regulation, to patients in nursing homes, skilled care facilities, nonprofit clinics and public health programs, under the general supervision of a dentist. Dental hygienists may apply dental sealants or topical fluoride under the direction of a state or local health department without a dentist’s initial evaluation under a protocol established by the state or a metropolitan health department. No supervision is required for dental hygienists participating in preventive oral health education events and free health screenings. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-5-109

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Tennessee allows for the practice of teledentistry through live video and store-and-forward modalities. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-5-108(16)

Tennessee has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Tennessee does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

A pharmacist may provide hormonal contraceptives, according to a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement, to individuals who are 18 years of age or older or under 18 years of age, if the individual is an emancipated minor. The pharmacist must complete a training program related to the provision of hormonal contraceptives, provide the patient with a self-screening risk assessment tool, provide the patient with information about the hormonal contraceptives and advise the patient to consult with a primary care practitioner or women’s healthcare practitioner and either dispense the hormonal contraceptive, or refer the patient to a pharmacy that may dispense the hormonal contraceptive, as soon as practicable after the pharmacist determines that the patient should receive the medication. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-10-219

Tennessee does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

A physician assistant is authorized to perform selected medical services only in collaboration with a licensed physician. Collaboration requires active and continuous overview of the physician assistant’s activities to ensure that the physician’s directions and advice are in fact implemented, but does not require the continuous and constant physical presence of the collaborating physician. The range of services that may be provided by a physician assistant must be set forth in a written protocol, jointly developed by the collaborating physician and the physician assistant. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-19-106

A PA may prescribe drugs and Schedules II-V controlled substances if delegated by the collaborating physician. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-19-107(2)

The range of services that a PA may provide is determined in the written protocol. A PA may only perform those tasks that are within the PA’s skills and competence and within the usual scope of practice of the collaborating physician. Tenn. Code Ann. §63-19-106