Are Pharmacies In Tennessee Breaking The Law By Not Dispensing Ivermectin?
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The Tennessee Conservative has received multiple reports that corporate-run pharmacies are either not carrying Ivermectin or telling customers that a prescription is required before they will dispense the medication, contrary to the original intent of a bill passed in the last session of the General Assembly.
The most recent report comes from a Tennessee Conservative subscriber who states that he was turned away by Publix Pharmacy in the Franklin area.
He said, “Am I reading HB2746/SB2188 correctly? I just went to Publix Pharmacy and asked for it and was told I needed a prescription?”
The summary of House Bill 2746 / Senate Bill 2188 stated, “As enacted, authorizes a pharmacist to provide ivermectin to a patient, who is 18 years of age or older, pursuant to a valid collaborative pharmacy practice agreement containing a non-patient-specific prescriptive order and standardized procedures developed and executed by one or more authorized prescribers; enacts other related provisions.”
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The bill appears to be fairly straightforward but the final version of the bill, that was signed into law by Governor Lee on March 22nd, contained quite a bit of legal jargon that begs the questions: “Is there something in the law, buried in the legal-speak, that provides a loophole for pharmacies?” and “If the pharmacies are violating the law, what can be done to ensure they follow it?”
With these questions in mind, The Tennessee Conservative reached out to several co-sponsors of the legislation seeking answers.
Representative Terri Lynn Weaver (R-District 40-Lancaster) told us that her understanding of the law is that a person needs to purchase Ivermectin at a “compound pharmacy.”
Weaver also said that customers will need to pay a $25 consulting fee before the pharmacy dispenses the medication. She related that the ‘consulting’ portion of the law was added to “keep some lobby firm happy.” But after a person pays the fee, they should be able to receive the medication.
She also related that she will soon go to a local pharmacy in Lebanon and walk through the process.
Weaver stated that some pharmacies will not fulfill Ivermectin orders and said, “that needs to be addressed.” She said that the final version of the law may have allowed for pharmacies to dispense the medication on their free will, rather than by mandate. Weaver stated she would find out and update TTC with what she finds out.
Representative Todd Warner (R-District 92-Chapel Hill) said, “I was and have been under the impression that the legislation you mentioned would provide an avenue for Ivermectin to be available to Tennesseans over-the-counter (without a prescription, but with guidance from the pharmacist on its use, etc). If this is not the case, it is news to me!”
“If I am mistaken and the legislation does somehow allow for a loophole in the system,” Warner said, “I am more than willing to sponsor legislation in January to take care of the problem!”
Representative Chris Todd (R-District 73-Madison County) also related that he thought the legislation took care of the issue and said, “The only possible ‘loophole’ that could be a problem is the FDA still requiring a prescription.”
Todd said he would have the Legal Department look into it and get back to us with what he finds out.
This is an ongoing story and The Tennessee Conservative will provide updates as new information surfaces.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
I have ordered Ivermectin at least three times online from All Day Chemist which is a company based in India. It usually takes 3-5 weeks to receive your order, but there is zero doctor/RX requirements. They also have pill form Hydroxychloroquine. Prices are very reasonable and there is no BS. Stop giving your money to Walgreens and CVS and all the other deep state companies.
I contacted 3 local pharmacies regarding purchasing ivermectin a few months after this legislation was passed. 2 knew nothing about the new legislation. Surprisingly, the one that is a compound pharmacy cited not having a “valid collaborative pharmacy practice agreement” as their reason. My questions were met with hostility, and I was told they would NOT be stocking this medication. The other 2 chain pharmacies, said they would look into the new legislation but would be more than happy to fill it, IF they could obtain it.
I attempted to purchase ivermectin to have on hand due to close exposure to covid. One pharmacy told me they don’t dispense for covid; one said they don’t dispense at all and 2 said I would need prescription. I finally found an independent pharmacy who work a couple of questions to determine dosage, dispensed it without any problem. I will use this pharmacy for other things now.
What is the name of this pharmacy? I would like to use them
I’ve called around Knoxville to help out a coworker find some and the answers that I got across the board is they’re waiting on a protocol on how to dispense it. Only a few pharmacies said they would dispense it if I had a prescription but more than likely insurance won’t cover it and I was told it’s very expensive. Welcome to Knoxville liberal city
Forget corporate pharmacies. My wife tried Kroger Walgreens cvs etc. All said no some even if you had a prescription. She ended up at a calling a compounding pharmacy In Morristown. A few after a conversation with the pharmacist and a charge card it came in the mail. There are two choices one preventative and one if you get covid.
Not as easy as you would expect and should be be, but it can de done.
I called a local Chattanooga pharmacy and the pharmacist told me that no doctor is going to agree to the collaborative agreement required and that the legislation was just a political stunt that offered no greater access to Ivermectin than before
This was on purpose by our weak *ss legislators.. pharms can only sell IVM if it is “repackaged” as OTC. And no pharm will do it. That’s why this was the ONLY IVM bill of any kind to pass. Completely deceitful.
Yes. This requirement for a collaborative pharmacy agreement is hashed out elsewhere in TN code. Essentially, your doctor has to have an agreement in place or the pharmacy doesn’t have to fill it. Like most TN laws, it doesn’t do what was on the glossy brochure.