This bill amends the Oklahoma Medicaid program regulations to enhance the accessibility of nonopioid drugs for pain management. It introduces a definition for "nonopioid drug" and modifies existing restrictions on the Medicaid drug formulary. Specifically, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is prohibited from imposing more restrictive utilization controls, such as prior authorization or step therapy, on FDA-approved nonopioid drugs compared to those applied to opioid drugs. Additionally, it ensures that coverage for nonopioid drugs cannot be denied in favor of opioid drugs when prescribed by a contracted provider.

Furthermore, the bill allows carriers of state employee flexible benefit plans to adopt a state preferred drug list (PDL) while maintaining the same restrictions on utilization controls for nonopioid drugs as those established for the Medicaid program. The bill clarifies that these provisions apply to nonopioid drugs that have been approved for coverage by a flexible benefit plan or through contracts with pharmacy benefits managers. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.