The bill amends the Social Welfare Act by modifying section 109h and adding section 109v. It establishes that if the Department of Health and Human Services creates a prior authorization process for prescription drugs under the medical assistance program, it cannot require prior authorization for certain categories of drugs. These include specific central nervous system prescription drugs, drugs recognized for treating various conditions such as cancer and epilepsy, and drugs for managing opioid withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, the bill specifies that prior authorization cannot be denied for controlled substances unless they do not align with licensed indications or accepted medical practices.

Section 109v mandates that the department must provide coverage for non-opioid analgesic drugs prescribed for pain management. It requires the department to add such drugs to the preferred drug list within 90 days of the bill's enactment and ensures that these drugs are not disadvantaged compared to opioid analgesics in terms of coverage. The section prohibits the establishment of more restrictive utilization review measures for non-opioid drugs than those applied to opioids, ensuring equitable access to pain management options.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 400.109