State Representative Bryan Terry

Rep. Bryan Terry Works To Improve Healthcare

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Rep. Bryan Terry Hosts Speaker Beth Harwell For Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Tour

NASHVILLE, JULY 8, 2019– Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) recently sent letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on behalf of District 48 and the Tennessee House Health Committee for support of a new proposed federal rule that would help improve the financial situation of Tennessee hospitals.  The rule would adjust the formula for calculating the Medicare Area Wage Index (AWI) which would improve payments to Tennessee hospitals and help stabilize the health care market.

“Because Medicare payments are predicated on the Area Wage Index and the AWI for Tennessee is low, our hospitals, especially our rural hospitals and those located in East Tennessee, are placed at a significant financial disadvantage compared to other states,” explained Terry.  “While medical equipment, supplies, and medications have continued to climb, Tennessee’s AWI has not. Hopefully, CMS will fix this disparity.”

Currently, every county in the State of Tennessee falls below the area wage index. This places Tennessee at a rank that is near the bottom of the reimbursement ranks in the country and has created a financial problem for hospitals in Tennessee.  The relief CMS has proposed in this rule will help keep more Tennessee hospitals from shutting down, and it will help keep healthcare access open for our citizens.

As Chairman of the Health Committee, Terry worked with the Tennessee Hospital Association, members of his committee, and other groups to address this problem.  In his letters, he pointed out that the structural make-up of AWI created a cycle that has led to the downfall of Tennessee’s reimbursement rate over the last 15 years. He emphasized that the proposed rule by CMS, CMS- 1716-P, would allow a beneficial plan to resolve the wage index disparities for hospitals with a wage index value below the 25th percentile, and would check the abuses of the “rural floor” calculation seen in other states.

“Medicare often doesn’t even pay enough to cover the costs to provide a service.  TennCare often pays significantly less than Medicare. This problem has to be addressed if we want to recruit doctors and services that will keep our hospitals afloat,” stated Terry.  “While this rule change won’t solve every problem in health care, it is a necessary step.”

In addition to addressing the AWI, Terry has been actively working on legislation within the House Republican CARE Plan which is aimed at decreasing costs and improving consumer driven care.  He has, also, been working to increase efficiency with TennCare while looking to help Tennessee take advantage of the State Relief and Empowerment Waivers offered by the Trump Administration.

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Tennessee General Assembly Legislative Wrap For 2019

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Many high priority topics were heard in the first year of the 111th General Assembly. I was privileged to take part in sponsoring and supporting several initiatives that will make Tennessee even better.

Healthcare –

  • Katie Beckett Waivers (HB 498) – This allows children with severe medical needs to receive in home care and services that they need, even if their parents’ annual income exceeds the income cap.  Some families have had to divorce in order for one of the parents to qualify for TennCare in order to get help for their child. As part of the TennCare committee, I helped to form and sponsor this legislation.
  • Pharmacy Benefits Managers (HB 786) – PBMs, the middlemen often responsible for increased drug pricing and unfair practices against pharmacies, will now have guardrails around their actions due to the regulations passed in House Bill 786, which I co-sponsored.  Additionally, I passed a budget appropriations amendment that will allow the state to implement best practice guidelines for PBMs.
  • Opioids (HB 705, HB 942) – Illicit fentanyl and carfentanil are opioids that are more potent than heroin, but carried lesser penalties.  I co-sponsored both of these bills that increased penalties for the trafficking of these opioids.
  • Insurance (HB 1126 & HB 419) – I supported insurance legislation that will allow for health care policies amongst a collaboration of small businesses.  In addition, I supported the Right to Shop Act which will require health insurance carriers to create incentive programs for policy holders who have met their deductible to look for healthcare providers that provide quality healthcare services at a cost lower than the average price.

Local –

  • Firefighters (HB 316 & HB 123) – We were able to provide better care and service to our Tennessee firefighters with a bill which will provide healthcare compensation to firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of their work in the line of duty.  Secondly, my Arson Investigator bill will extend police powers and the ability to make arrests related to arson investigation to county fire investigators. This will allow the Rutherford County Fire Department to perform their investigative duties in a much more efficient and effective manner.  
  • Sheriffs’ Departments (HB 643) – Thanks to overwhelming support for the mental health transportation bill, Sheriffs’ departments across the state will have an alternative for transportation of mental health patients. This initiative will protect our officers and our patients.
  • Voter Convenience (HB 1077) – I previously passed a voter convenience pilot program for a Rutherford County.  The program was an overwhelming success, and House Bill 1077 makes sure Rutherford County will be able to continue with convenient voting centers for our elections.
  • MTSU Funding – I was glad to support Governor Lee’s 2019 budget, which included nearly $35 million in funding for the MTSU Concrete Industry Management program.

Abortion –

  • Heartbeat Bill (HB 77) – I stood for Pro-Life legislation when the House of Representatives passed the Heartbeat Bill which would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, unless there were concerns for the health of the mother.  Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.
  • Complications of Abortion Reporting Bill (HB 711) – With the passing of my Complications Reporting Bill, Planned Parenthood will be exposed and held accountable for the complications encountered during abortion procedures that Tennessee tax dollars have to pay to fix.

Illegal Immigration –

  • State Dollars – I stood with the other conservative members in the fight against illegal immigration. I helped to ensure that illegal immigrants would not be able receive state benefits,
  • E-Verify (HB 1239) – I also supported a bill that requires that employers with 25 or more employees enroll in an electronic verification program to confirm the work authorization status of their employees.  In the previous session, I helped reduce the requirement from 100 to 50 employees.  This bill will reduce that number further. Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.

Education –

  • Budget Funding – The General Assembly secured $168 million in new funding for Tennessee Public Education, including increased teacher pay, more school resource officers, expanded vocational education, and increased BEP funding.
  • MTSU Scholarships – The 2019 budget also included $750,000 in financial aid for scholarships for students in the joint MTSU/Meharry medical program.
  • Teacher Reward Bill (HB 632) – I sponsored and passed a bill that provides a reward of five additional professional development points (PDP) to teachers working in Priority or Focus list schools.  Teachers are required to earn 60 PDP’s for their license every 6 years.  The bill will help those teachers who work in difficult educational environments.
  • Teacher Evaluations (HB 928) – I stood with Governor Lee in his initiative to update the Tennessee teacher evaluation process.  While I recognize that further protections are necessary, the bill is a step in the right direction. I will continue to fight to protect our teachers in the future.

Taxes & Employment –

  • The General Assembly unanimously passed a $38.5 billion budget. The budget included an addition of $225 million to the state’s rainy day fund, while eliminating the professional privilege tax for 15 professions, the amusement tax on gyms and fitness centers, and the tax on ammunition.
  • Tennessee’s economy is prospering. Tennessee has record low unemployment at 3.2%, businesses are moving to Tennessee every day, and the General Assembly secured $222 million to continue to bring high paying jobs to Tennessee.

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Terry Introduces March Madness & Fantasy Football Freedom Act

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Terry Introduces March Madness & Fantasy Football Freedom Act
Terry Introduces March Madness & Fantasy Football Freedom Act

NASHVILLE, February 28, 2019 — The NCAA College Basketball Tournament is just around the corner.
Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) has filed HB 1033, which has been dubbed the “March
Madness and Fantasy Football Freedom Act”, and is aimed at decriminalizing the yearly tradition of
thousands of Tennesseans participating in low level sports entertainment office pools.

The bill would allow an individual participant to place a maximum of twenty-five dollars into a low level
sports entertainment pool that is run solely by an individual, but not a as business for profits. The
maximum size of the pool would be one thousand dollars. Most March Madness pools involve
participants filling out one or two brackets of sixty-three games with an entry fee of five or ten dollars
per bracket. Fantasy football often involves either a flat entry fee or an entry fee of around ten dollars
with one dollar added per roster transaction. The bill is limited in its scope to only low level sports
entertainment pools.

“Whether for camaraderie or for a sense of entertainment, thousands of Tennesseans participate in
these entertainment pools at work or with their friends. They put five or ten bucks in a pot and fill out a
bracket or draft a team,” explained Terry. “The activity is more about entertainment and not gambling.
Let’s be honest, one or two movie tickets often cost more than an entry into a pool, and you gamble
more on whether or not the movie is actually going to be entertaining.”

Former NBA player and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection
Act (PASPA) in 1992 which limited any form of gambling on sports, including low level office pools, to
only four states: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and New Jersey. As such, the State of Tennessee has kept
statutes on the books prohibiting activities such as March Madness and Fantasy Football pools.

The legislation was filed in light of the decision reached last May by the U.S. Supreme Court in Murphy v
NCAA; a case which overturned PASPA. By dissolving the legal bounds set by PASPA, the Supreme Court
extended the right to participate in low level pools to all 50 states. “Ideally it would a simple fix to just
repeal current statutes, but that would open the door to widespread sports gambling. I’m not going
down that road. I’m just focused on ensuring office workers and friends can enjoy activities that they
have always done without risk of criminalization,” said Terry.

In 2018 it is estimated that over 70 million March Madness tournament brackets were completed
nationwide with upwards of $10 billion in various pools. Likewise, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association
estimates that thirty-three million people participate in fantasy football, with more than $1.18 B
changing hands through pools each year. Despite their widespread popularity and recent federal “green
light”, these low level sports entertainment pools, in any capacity, are still considered illegal in
Tennessee as a Class C Misdemeanor. Technically, one could be charged, convicted, and sentenced to 30
days of jail time and ordered to pay a $50 fine for participating in fantasy football or March Madness
pools. If two people were to promote the creation of an office pool, they could be charged with
Aggravated Gambling Promotion under § 39-17-503, which is a Class E Felony carrying anywhere
between one to six years in prison and a fine up to $3,000.

“The General Assembly used to utilize the Office of the Repealer to remove anachronistic or
unnecessary laws from our code. We need to go that route with March Madness misdemeanors and
Fantasy Football felonies,” exclaimed Terry. “This statute, to my knowledge, has never been enforced
and needs to be repealed.”

If the Tennessee General Assembly passes HB 1033, it will be joining 27 other states who are looking to
address this issue in some capacity. Though Terry is taking a unique approach for thousands of
Tennesseans who annually participate in low level sports entertainment pools, he hopes he can provide
security for all those who fill out brackets. “Due to PASPA, the Feds basically created a system of black
market bracketology, and it’s time that this statute goes bust like most brackets,” concluded Terry.
For more information regarding this bill please contact the office of Representative Bryan Terry at the
information below.

Office: (615) 741-2180
Email: rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Link to bill: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1033

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Rep. Terry: Week one of the 111th General Assembly

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This week I filed my first two bills.  The first bill is HB 120 and will increase the penalties related to illicit fentanyl, sufentanil, and carfentanil manufacturing, possession, distribution, and trafficking.  Though more powerful, cheaper, and easier to traffic than heroin, they carry less of a penalty which incentivizes drug traffickers to poison our communities. I have spoken extensively with Governor Lee and his staff on this issue, and I believe he is looking into making some changes to our laws. However, I must ensure this issue is getting addressed, thus filed the bill.  Senator Dickerson, who carried it last year, has agreed to carry it again.

I have, also, filed HB 123 which will allow county fire departments to appoint arson investigators and provide them with policing powers to secure the scenes of suspected arson.  Municipalities currently have this authority, but this bill will extend it to the counties. Though the bill applies statewide, this is really a local issue as we are losing our arson investigator to retirement.  Fire Chief Larry Farley brought this issue to my attention. The mayor, sheriff, and county commission are supportive and the state fire marshal office does not oppose.

Without an arson investigator to secure a scene, Rutherford County firefighters would be forced to keep a truck and firefighters at the scene until an investigator that covers seven counties arrives.  Our fire department could then be without the use of a truck and manpower for several hours until the scene is secured. In a county that is growing like ours, this is unacceptable. Senator Shane Reeves will be carrying this bill in the Senate.

Working on Issues Important to Tennesseans

This week I continued to gather information and work on issues that are important to the District and to Tennessee.  I was able to formally sit down with the new TennCare Director, Gabe Roberts and listen to his vision for TennCare. I discussed my concerns with the program, as well as offered input on how we can better serve Tennesseans.  I was, also, able to meet with the Chairmen of the new TennCare and Health Insurance Committees to discuss some of our challenges ahead.

In addition to those meetings, I met with all the Health Subcommittee Chairmen and vice-chair to discuss logistics and major health issues that will be coming through our committees.  I expect unborn protections, opioids, mental health treatments, certificate of need legislation and medical cannabis to be some of the issues we will discuss.

One of the major headlines this week revolved around New York’s new abortion law that, in my opinion, is not only anti-life, but dangerous to women.  Allowing non-physicians to perform abortions while, also, presenting a false sense of security for women with a true medical emergency is malpractice by a state.  One can rest assured that as Chairman of Health, I will work against any such legislation. In fact, I’m already working with others to further protect the unborn and women.

One should, also, know that I have held many discussions with legislators, the administration, and others on the issue cannabis based medicines.  I’ve had two working drafts of legislation, but after many discussions, I have decided one pathway is clearly a better and more feasible option. As many may know, I require legislators to fill out my four step process form when they file a bill.  I do the same for my legislation. The steps include: premise or problem to solve, goal or goals, options, and feasibility of those options. Understanding that my premise is that the chemicals in cannabis have medicinal properties and my goal is to get cannabis based medicines to Tennesseans in a safe and cost efficient manner, I know that there are many options to take.  In fact, 33 states have taken various options. But in Tennessee, the feasibility of various options is narrow. I’m working hard to ensure we can accomplish our goals this session.

111th General Assembly Honors Martin Luther King, Pledges To Fight Racism

This week in Nashville, House Republicans formally honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life with a resolution noting all he did to bring us together. The measure also pledges to fight racism of all types in Tennessee. 

Members of the House leadership team introduced the measure during Wednesday morning’s session in the House chamber. It was later passed unanimously by the entire Tennessee General Assembly, sending a message that racism and hatred will not be tolerated in our state. 

Dr. King was a prominent civil rights leader who emphasized peaceful demonstration and inspired young men and women across the country to draw attention to the injustices done solely because of race.

House Republicans are committed to honoring his incredible legacy and making King’s dream come to fruition by ensuring Tennessee is a place where equality, justice, freedom, and peace continue to grow and flourish.

Tennessee Unemployment Holds Steady During December 

Statewide Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.6 percent for Second Consecutive Month 

New data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rates remain near record low levels.

The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December 2018 was 3.6 percent, which mirrored the rate from November.

Since 2011, House Republicans have supported a business-friendly environment that has led to the creation of more than 400,000 new private sector jobs. Additionally, Tennessee’s median household income is growing at the second fastest rate in the entire southeast.

Republican leaders will continue to focus on backing commonsense initiatives and eliminating burdensome regulations that hinder job growth. This will guarantee our state remains open for business.  

Governor Lee Issues First Executive Order to Address Accelerated Transformation of Rural Areas

All executive departments required to assess rural impact and provide recommendations

This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued his first executive order, requiring all state executive departments to issue a statement of rural impact and provide recommendations for better serving rural Tennessee. 

This executive order is the first step by the administration to accelerate plans to address 15 distressed counties in Tennessee — all rural. The order requires each executive department to submit a statement of rural impact explaining how the department serves rural Tennesseans no later than May 31, 2019 and recommendations for improving that service by June 30, 2019.

 There are 22 executive departments that will engage in this review and recommendation process. Distressed counties rank among the 10 percent most economically distressed counties in the nation. Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) prepares an index of county economic status for every county in the United States.

Lake, Lauderdale, Hardeman, McNairy, Perry, Jackson, Clay, Grundy, Van Buren, Bledsoe, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, Hancock, and Cocke Counties are categorized as distressed counties.

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Rep. Bryan Terry Named Health Committee Chairman

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NASHVILLE– The 111th Tennessee General Assembly has just gotten underway, and Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro), a Rutherford County anesthesiologist, has been named chairman of the Tennessee House of Representatives Health Committee.  The assignment places him in a position to make a significant impact on the health care of Tennesseans.

“It’s truly an honor to serve District 48 and all of Tennessee in such a vital capacity,” stated Terry.  “I appreciate the faith Speaker Glen Casada has placed in me by placing me in such an important role, and I look forward to the challenges ahead for the betterment of Tennesseans. I’m looking forward to working with Vice-Chairwoman Esther Helton on this important committee.”

Rep. Terry previously served as the House Health Subcommittee Chairman during the 110th General Assembly, and through his efforts, earned the promotion to full chairmanship.  During his tenure as Health Subcommittee chair, he played a pivotal role in addressing the opioid crisis, crafting pro-life legislation, and working to decrease health care and prescription costs.  

“The opioid crisis has been one of the biggest issues to face Tennessee,” explained Speaker Casada.  “Chairman Terry showed extreme diligence and determination in helping bring solutions to the crisis. He has a track record of bringing a conservative and thoughtful businesslike approach to his committee and with the issues facing Tennessee, I’m confident that he will serve our state well.”

As full committee chairman, Terry will, also, oversee three subcommittees: Public Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Facilities, Licenses and Regulations.  “The subcommittee structure will help our committee structure be more focused and efficient in order to better serve our constituents,” explained Terry.

In addition to Health, Chairman Terry has been assigned to serve on the standing Insurance committee and on the new TennCare oversight subcommittee which function under Insurance.  “Many people are unaware that TennCare is under the Executive Administration’s purview. The new TennCare committee will bring more power and influence to the people. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve on these committees and help make positive changes for Tennesseans,” concluded Terry.

Representative Bryan Terry, MD serves District 48 which is the eastern half of Rutherford County.  His office can be reached at Rep.Bryan.Terry@Capitol.TN.Gov or via phone at 615-741-2180.

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New Year, New Session, New Hopes

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The results of the most recent election cycle are set to take effect this month as the latest round of federal elected officials were sworn in at our nation’s Capitol last week and our state officials will be sworn in today in Nashville.  With significant change at the state and federal levels including a new Governor and General Assembly, renewed hope springs for citizens across the state and across the nation. While I have serious doubts and reservations for progress at the federal level with Pelosi as the Speaker of the House, Tennessee is in position to further improve our standing as a leader in our nation.  I’m looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge.

Throughout my time in service to our community, our shared values have been consistent and I expect this session to have a strong focus on many of our concerns.  Below is a primer for this session with some topics I expect to be discussed.

Safety:  School safety and judicial reform will be on the agenda.

Health:  TennCare oversight and review may lead to some significant improvements in the system.  Health insurance and prescription costs will be discussed. Mental health, opioids, and medical cannabis will, also, be on our agenda.

Affordability:  Keeping Tennessee a low tax state will be a priority.

Recreation and Tourism:  A sports gambling bill has been offered and will be discussed.

Education:  Testing, funding, teacher recruitment, school choice, and higher education costs are expected to be discussed.

Voice:  Transparency, accountability, and open government will garner more attention, as citizen groups continue to bring awareness to these issues.

Agriculture:  With hemp legalization at the federal level and agricultural medicine becoming a booming market, I expect there to be discussions on the impact on Tennessee and how we can help our rural communities compete.

Liberties:  I expect free speech, second amendment, and personal liberties to experience legislation on various fronts.  A “red flag” bill has already been proposed.

Unborn:  More pro-life legislation is expected to be filed this session.  One can look at recent successful measures from other states to ascertain what to expect.  

Economy:  Removing barriers to employment and entrepreneurship will be amongst the priorities of the General Assembly.  

Security:  Democrats may attempt to attract illegal immigration to Tennessee, but don’t look for those bills to gain much traction.

More than likely, there will be over 1000 bills filed.  As we get into session, look for my weekly update on Facebook.

With Liberty,

Dr. Bryan Terry

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Rep. Terry Clarifies Newly Adopted Tennessee Abortion Law

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Several new laws have now taken effect January 1.  One new law surrounding abortion that has taken effect is Public Chapter 862.  It says that if an abortion provider performs an ultrasound prior to an abortion(they almost always perform one), then they must offer the opportunity to the woman to learn the results.  If the woman wants the results, the abortion provider must provide the results including whether or not there is a heartbeat. In addition, the presence or absence of a heartbeat must be included in their report to the state.

The law has been misreported by all sides of news media, but is landmark, constitutional legislation that is going to save lives and hopefully change hearts and minds towards the unborn.  It also, unbeknownst to nearly everyone, contains former State Rep. Rick Womick’s everlasting contribution to the pro-life movement.

I know a lot of folks like political inside baseball.  Below is some info on how the law got passed and what the law means:

Many folks are aware that back on 2015 Rick Womick had a controversial ultrasound bill.  The original iteration had some issues, especially in relation to Amendment 1. However, in 2016, I worked with Rick to amend his bill in order to maximize unborn protections while, also, ensuring it wouldn’t negatively impact the laws surrounding Amendment 1.  

Of course, the left and the media, who didn’t bother to understand the changes, were still in hysterics over his bill and several on the right still had concerns because they were not aware of the changes either.  In the end, Rick stood in front of the committee. Spoke passionately about the unborn, and in a statesmanlike manner, took his bill off notice.

The amended version of Rick’s bill operated on these principles none of which can be refuted by Planned Parenthood nor pro-abortion activists or legislators.

  1. Depending on gestation, an ultrasound is the standard of care prior to an abortion.
  2. Providers should offer test results so patients can make an informed decision
  3. Women(and all patients) deserve to know the results of their tests if they choose
  4. Providers should document the test results and keep patients records(current law)
  5. Women overwhelmingly will choose life if they know their ultrasound has a heartbeat.

To further explain these points, there are various types of abortion procedures depending on the age and size of the unborn.  The state does NOT have to require an ultrasound prior to an abortion because it is already the standard of care. Depending on the perceived gestation of the unborn, the abortion clinic has to obtain an ultrasound or else they risk doing the wrong kind of abortion which is malpractice.  

As an ultrasound is a medical procedure, the results should be offered to the patient.  In all aspects of medicine, some patients don’t want or even care to understand the results of tests, but patients should make informed decisions on their health and in order to do that, they should be offered or given the results of their procedure. Not offering results or intentionally hiding results is unethical, and abortion providers don’t want to admit they are unethical.  

By law, doctor’s offices and hospitals must keep patient records for a certain amount of time.  Additionally, by law, abortion providers must submit information to the state surrounding the nature and number of abortions.  This report is titled the Intrauterine Termination of Pregnancy Report(ITOP). The ITOP report, in addition to reporting the type of abortion, also, contained the gestational age of the unborn.  What it did not contain was whether there was a confirmed heartbeat on the ultrasound. As the abortion clinics must keep records and have this information, this new law will require that heartbeat data be submitted, as well.

This past session, the opportunity arose to insert the principles from Womick’s bill into existing legislation.  I called Rick and told him what we were going to do. I worked with the sponsor and we were able to pass the bill with overwhelming support and with Governor Haslam’s signature.

The law is a pro-woman, pro-patient, pro-life piece of legislation that is going to save unborn lives while changing minds as Tennesseans will now know the number of Tennessee heartbeats that the abortion industry takes.  This couldn’t have occurred without the groundwork of Rick Womick.

And like Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story.

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Bryan Terry: Thanks District 48 Citizens, For Your Overwhelming Support!

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(Nashville, Tenn.) — State Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) thanked the voters of District 48 for their overwhelming support during his successful re-election bid. Terry won by a landslide margin on election night and, also, garnered the highest percentage of votes of any state or federal candidate on the ballot in Rutherford County — including Governor-Elect Bill Lee. 

“My family and I are truly humbled and honored to be re-elected to serve our community during the 111th Tennessee General Assembly,” stated an enthusiastic Dr. Terry. “Our community supports efforts to improve education, health care, safety and jobs, as opposed to the extremist rhetoric and protesting that is divisive. I have worked to be the voice for all citizens of District 48, and I look forward to continuing to serve our incredible community.”

Dr. Terry will be serving his third term in the Tennessee House of Representatives for the area that encompasses the eastern half of Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee State University. As a member of the 110th General Assembly, he served as House Health Subcommittee Chairman and was instrumental in many health care improvements — not only in Rutherford County but across Tennessee.  During the crafting of Governor Haslam’s Tennessee Together plan, Dr. Terry led efforts to address the opioid crisis while working to ensure that legitimate patients were protected from unintended physical and financial consequences of any legislation. 

“My goals with this important initiative were to not only help address the opioid problem plaguing Tennessee, but, also, to ensure patients were able to receive proper treatment, while also protecting their pocketbooks from burdensome expenses,” said Terry. “We know we accomplished a significant part of these goals, but we still have more work ahead, and we are already looking at new solutions to further address this critical issue.”

In addition to the opioid crisis, Terry has worked to decrease prescription costs and also improve patient access.  He was instrumental in removing the gag clause on pharmacists, which previously prevented them from discussing less expensive payment options for prescription drugs. Ultimately, President Trump followed Tennessee’s lead by signing a federal law to prevent these same gag clauses. 

Recently, the Trump Administration and CMS offered states access to State Relief and Empowerment Waivers. These waivers will allow Tennessee the opportunity to revamp the health insurance market by providing patients with greater choice and less expensive plans.

“We have been working to stabilize the health insurance market and help improve access and options for patients.  Unfortunately, restrictions and regulations surrounding the Affordable Care Act, as well as roadblocks put forth by the Obama Administration have hindered our efforts to help our citizens,” stated Terry.  “With the new guidance from the Trump Administration, Tennessee will have the opportunity to address several health care concerns including protecting those with pre-existing conditions while providing more patient centered options.” 

During his tenure, Representative Terry has been known as a proactive advocate for education.  He believes the combination of a new governor and the turnover among House Education Committee members will present some new challenges but, also, exciting new opportunities in order to further improve the system. “Though Tennessee has taken steps forward in education, there are still concerns that need to be addressed including testing.  I look forward to continuing to be an advocate on behalf of our community as we strive to make improvements for our students, parents, and teachers,” stated Terry.

With the 111th General Assembly quickly approaching, Rep. Terry explained that he has already been working on legislation and issues for the upcoming session. “We have made remarkable progress improving Tennessee, but creating new solutions to address vital issues that will impact the future outcomes of our state is an ongoing process. I appreciate the strong partnerships I have with our citizens, local leaders, and my legislative colleagues. All of these play an important role in bringing forth innovative ideas that will move Tennessee from good to great. I am thankful to District 48 for the faith they have placed in me to continue to work for the betterment of all.”

Representative Bryan Terry, MD can be contacted at 615-741-2180 or via email at rep.Bryan.Terry@capitol.tn.gov. 

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From Good To Great: Protecting Our Shared Values In Tennessee

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Dr. Bryan Terry

MURFREESBORO– In recent years, Tennessee has undergone a remarkable transformation. Gone are the days of high taxes, even higher unemployment rates, dismal education rankings, threats to our security, and a stagnant economy. All of these were the result of failed Democratic leadership in Nashville prior to 2010. A new era was ushered into our Tennessee General Assembly when Republicans became the state’s majority party in 2011. Now, Tennessee is a national leader on several fronts, and conservative lawmakers who share your Tennessee values are critical to ensuring our future success.     

It has been a privilege serving as your voice for our SHARED VALUES in Nashville over the last four years. During this time, I have supported measures that have improved Safety, decreased Healthcare costs, fortified our Agriculture community, enhanced Recreation and tourism, boosted Tennessee’s Education system, addressed the Diverse needs of our community, given a Voice to our citizens, lowered taxes and made government more efficient to boost Affordability, protected the Liberties afforded to us by our Constitution, strengthened protections for our Unborn children, promoted a vibrant Economy, and reinforced our Security.     

Shared values are at the heart of every single aspect of my service to the citizens of our community and Tennessee. Our families and their children deserve to live in safe neighborhoods, and that’s why I have strongly advocated for additional resources that back our local law enforcement, first responders, and military personnel.

My conservative colleagues and I, also, agree we must improve access and the quality of healthcare available to our citizens while lowering costs. Obamacare mandates and regulations have already jeopardized patients by driving up costs and decreasing access to providers and facilities.  House Republicans want to create a consumer-driven system that puts patients and their doctors in control of their health decisions without interference from the government or insurance providers. This can be accomplished through patient-centered reforms and innovative policies, as well as increasing competition, which will ultimately lower costs and improve access and the quality of care patients receive.  With the new guidance from the Trump Administration in the form of “State Relief and Empowerment Waivers”, Tennessee will will have the opportunity to properly address a healthcare system broken by the Obama Administration.

I believe in creating jobs, not inciting mobs. We need to continue creating environments where industries like agriculture, recreation and tourism, and other important sectors thrive. Current statewide unemployment has remained near record-low levels for more than an entire year, and locally, we have the third lowest rate in the state — just 2.9 percent. The average Tennessee household income has, also, grown at the fastest rate in the southeast region.

Because of the strategic investments made by Republicans in education — including more than $200 million in new K-12 funding and $55 million in teacher pay raises just this year alone — our students are the fastest improving across math, reading, and science in the entire nation. These types of efforts help us better address the diverse needs of our citizens by preparing our current and future workers with the education and training needed to attract and fill the quality jobs in Tennessee.  After all, Republican leaders want our current and future employees, entrepreneurs, and business owners to control their own destinies and excel at all levels of their careers.

In the years ahead, I will continue to give a voice to our citizens so they remain actively involved and engaged as we work on new solutions to meet their needs. While we have cut almost $1 billion dollars in taxes in recent years, we must continue to keep taxes low and government efficient. I will always fight to protect your individual liberties granted to us by our Constitution, safeguard our unborn children, back initiatives and the allocation of resources that allow for our continued economic growth and prosperity, and better secure Tennessee’s borders to keep dangerous drugs and violent criminals off of our streets.

These are very exciting times in our community, our region, and our state. We are on the verge of greatness, and I know that together, Tennessee will do more than just scratch the surface of its endless potential. Your continued partnership and support of House Republicans at the polls will ensure that Tennessee remains a model for our entire nation to follow!     

Bryan Terry, MD serves as Chairman of the House Health Subcommittee, as well as a member of the House Health and Civil Justice Committees. He lives in Murfreesboro and represents House District 48, which includes the eastern half of Rutherford County. Terry can be reached by calling (615) 741-2180 or emailing: Rep.Bryan.Terry@capitol.tn.gov.

 

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