Tennessee Orthopaedic Society: 2025 Legislative Session Advocacy Summary

Dear Orthopaedic Colleagues,

As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, I want to take a moment to summarize the Tennessee Orthopaedic Society’s advocacy efforts and accomplishments over the past few months. Our mission to protect and advance the interests of orthopaedic surgeons—and the patients we serve—remains at the forefront of our work at the Capitol.

Throughout the session, we maintained a strong presence through direct meetings with legislators, weekly calls with our lobbyists at Capital and 5th Public Strategies, written testimony, grassroots outreach, and strategic partnerships with allied physician groups. Your participation—whether by responding to action alerts, attending meetings, or sharing your clinical expertise—was vital to our success. See Key Advocacy Highlights below.
 

Looking ahead, we remain committed to protecting our profession, advancing patient care, and shaping sound healthcare policy in Tennessee. We plan to meet with key legislators this summer to discuss potential legislation for the 2026 legislative session. Your after-tax donation to the TOS PAC can greatly support us in these efforts. 
 
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Sincerely,

Tyler Brolin, MD
President
Tennessee Orthopaedic Society

Key Advocacy Highlights from the 2025 Session

• Support for the Corporate Practice of Medicine Act:
  TOS endorsed the passage of the Corporate Practice of Medicine Act, which allows for hospital employment of physicians prohibited under the Act previously in less populated counties and most importantly for us, included the authorization of anesthesia assistants to begin practicing in Tennessee. This legislation supports collaborative care models, ensures proper physician oversight, and enhances access to surgical services across the state.

• Athletic Trainers Scope of Practice Review:
  TOS conducted a thorough review of proposed changes to the scope of practice for athletic trainers. We supported their ability to administer dry needling as an appropriate extension of care under physician supervision. However, we opposed broader, less-defined scope expansions that could blur professional boundaries and compromise patient safety. Legislators ultimately adopted language that closely aligned with TOS’s position, reflecting a balanced and patient-centered approach.

• Prior Authorization and CON Reform:
  While there was no active legislation on these fronts, we voiced our position on the need for reform in both these areas

• Scope of Practice Protections:
  We monitored and successfully opposed efforts to expand non-physician scope of practice in ways that could compromise patient safety and care. We also provided valuable input and coordinated with coalition partners to address and resist adverse scope of practice proposals.