NASHVILLE, TENN. — Over 200 members of the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 4 to protect healthcare at TMA’s annual Doctors’ Day on the Hill.

The annual event, which brings together practicing and retired physicians, residents and students from multiple specialties and geographic locations throughout the state, serves to educate members of the Tennessee General Assembly on issues important to physicians and protect good healthcare policy through advocacy. Participants attended committee hearings and held individual and group meetings with nearly 100 legislative offices.

TMA’s top legislative priorities for the first session of the 114th General Assembly include TennCare payment reform, prior authorization and lethal fetal anomalies. Attendees took advantage of this important opportunity to lobby legislators on each issue.

“Their [physicians] presence matters,” said Julie Griffin, Vice President of Government Affairs for TMA. “Legislators know how busy physicians are, and for them to take a day to be on the Hill means something to lawmakers. What physicians are doing is making a difference.”

Doctor’s Day on the Hill plays a key role in TMA’s legislative efforts. Bringing physicians to the Capitol serves as a primary source of information as lawmakers consider various policy.

“[Day on the Hill] is important because we can help present information to the legislators which they may not be able to get somewhere else,” said TMA’s President, Landon Combs, MD. “We are a group of people who knows how it [policy] affects not only patients, but also physicians and the care patients receive.”

TMA’s legislative efforts begin long before and continue long after Doctors’ Day on the Hill. In the 2025 session, TMA has reviewed over 1,600 bills. The advocacy team is currently monitoring roughly 280 bills on a range of healthcare issues. Read more about TMA’s legislative priorities at tnmed.org/legislative.

The Tennessee Medical Association is a nonprofit professional organization for Tennessee physicians. TMA represents more than 10,000 Tennessee physicians and physicians-in-training. The organization advocates for public policies, laws and rules that promote healthcare safety and quality for all Tennesseans and improve the nonclinical aspects of practicing medicine. Learn more at tnmed.org.

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