SPONSOR: Stinnett
This bill requires that when a licensed health care professional acting within the scope of his or her license prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain to an enrollee, it will be unlawful for a health benefit plan to:
(1) Deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug;
(2) Require the enrollee to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug; or
(3) Require a higher level of cost-sharing for the nonopioid prescription drug than for an opioid prescription drug.
This will apply to health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
This bill is similar to HB 1680 and SB 902 (2026).
Statutes affected: