This bill mandates that insurance providers in the state cover a variety of non-opioid pain management therapies as alternatives to opioid treatments. Insurers are required to offer coverage for services such as behavioral health interventions, manual treatments, movement therapies, acupuncture, and massage therapy, with a minimum of 12 visits for each service category. Additionally, insurers must develop and submit a comprehensive pain services management plan for approval by the insurance commissioner, which will detail the covered services and must be made publicly accessible on their websites. The bill also emphasizes the need for educational materials to be provided to policyholders and in-network providers regarding pain management options.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits insurers from imposing more restrictive utilization controls on non-opioid therapies compared to those applied to opioid drugs, aiming to enhance access to effective pain management alternatives. It amends existing statutes by inserting provisions related to pain management services under RSA 415:6-bb and RSA 415:18-gg and hh, while maintaining the current structure of health service corporations and health maintenance organizations. The legislation is expected to take effect on July 1, 2025, and may lead to increased claims costs and premiums, impacting state, county, and local expenditures. Additionally, it mandates an external actuarial review of the costs and benefits associated with new coverage mandates to assess their financial implications before implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 420-A:2, 420-B:20