SCRI Oncology Partners Hosts Members of Tennessee State Legislature

On Monday, January 5, SCRI Oncology Partners hosted seven members from the Tennessee State Legislature for a tour of their clinic in Nashville, TN. SCRI Oncology Partners is proud to deliver high-quality, patient-centered cancer care close to home for Tennesseans—and this visit was a powerful opportunity to showcase the value of community oncology as well as our connection with Sarah Cannon Research Institute to their legislative leaders.

Dr. David Spigel, Dr. Melissa Johnson, Dr. Erika Hamilton, and Dr. Meredith McKean led an insightful tour and discussion, emphasizing the real-world policy challenges our patients and providers face every day. One of the key issues discussed was the importance of access to clinical trials in a community setting, allowing patients to have access to a variety of treatments while continuing to live their lives and spend time with their families.

In addition, the importance of biomarker testing in cancer care was discussed since a bill has been filed in the legislature that would require coverage for biomarker testing for patients with metastatic cancer. Senator Reeves was in attendance and is the sponsor of this bill in the Senate. Representative Hemmer was also in attendance and is a co-prime sponsor of the House version. This was an excellent opportunity for the physicians to provide clarity and insight into the importance of biomarker testing for those with a cancer diagnosis directly to the legislators who are working on this legislation.

We are deeply grateful to Senators Johnson and Reeves, as well as to Representatives Lamberth, Love, Hemmer, Mitchell, and Clemmons for taking the time to visit, listen, and engage with our providers. These members hold a wide variety of leadership roles in the Tennessee Legislature in healthcare and beyond, so they brought unique perspectives on the broader challenges facing our communities. Their willingness to connect directly with providers and understand the impact of healthcare policy on patients is exactly the kind of leadership we need to protect and strengthen access to community-based cancer care. We are especially thankful for all their continued advocacy and support.

If your practice is interested in hosting a site visit, please contact Angela Storseth at angela.storseth@usoncology.com.