(a) Members of the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee shall not enter any financial relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers or their affiliates during their tenure on the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee. A member shall not entertain individual lobbying or marketing, or participate in any other activity or discussions with pharmaceutical manufacturers or their representatives for the purpose of influencing the preferred drug list (PDL) that would call into question the member's impartiality in determining drugs to recommend for inclusion on a state PDL. Nothing in this subsection (a) shall prohibit a member from engaging in common business practices or prohibit communications to or from the member that occur in the ordinary course of the member's business or professional activities.

(b) A conflict of interest exists when the member has a significant personal, professional, or monetary interest in a matter under consideration by the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee. Persons being considered for membership on the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee shall disclose if they have a real or apparent conflict of interest. Conflicts of interest may include, but shall not be limited to, being the recipient of a grant, hired as a consultant, being part of a speakers bureau, a major stock holder, or the recipient of other financial support from an organization likely to benefit financially from the outcome of the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee's work.

(c) Members shall dispose of matters before the committee in an unbiased and professional manner. In the event that a matter being considered by the committee presents a real or apparent conflict of interest, such members shall disclose the conflict to the chair and recuse themselves from any official action on the matter.

(d) Members shall receive no compensation for their service on the state TennCare pharmacy advisory committee but may be reimbursed for those expenses allowed by the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.