The 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, 409.9064 and 409.9746, which define "nonopioid pain drug" as a nonopioid medication approved by the FDA for pain treatment. Both the Medicaid program and Medicaid managed care plans are required to ensure that nonopioid pain drugs are not disadvantaged compared to opioid or narcotic drugs. The bill outlines prohibited practices, such as designating nonopioid pain drugs as nonpreferred if any opioid or narcotic drug is preferred, and imposing more restrictive utilization controls on nonopioid pain drugs than those applied to opioids.

The bill aims to promote the use of nonopioid pain management options by ensuring equitable coverage and preventing discriminatory practices in the prescription drug coverage landscape. It emphasizes that any restrictions or prior authorization requirements for nonopioid pain drugs should not exceed those for opioid medications used for the same conditions. The provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.