This bill establishes new provisions in Florida law regarding the coverage of prescription drugs for pain management, specifically focusing on nonopioid pain drugs. It creates two new sections in the Florida Statutes: 409.9064 and 409.9746. Both sections define "nonopioid pain drug" as a nonopioid medication approved by the FDA for pain treatment and mandate that the Medicaid program and Medicaid managed care plans provide coverage for these drugs without disadvantaging them compared to opioid or narcotic drugs. The bill outlines prohibited practices, such as designating nonopioid pain drugs as nonpreferred if opioids are preferred, and imposing more restrictive utilization controls on nonopioid drugs than those applied to opioids.

The bill aims to ensure equitable treatment of nonopioid pain medications in the context of pain management, thereby encouraging their use and potentially reducing reliance on opioids. It specifies that any restrictive policies or practices that favor opioids over nonopioids are not permitted. The provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.