This bill establishes new provisions in South Dakota law regarding the treatment of pain with non-opioid drugs. It mandates that the Department of Social Services create a preferred drug list for the medical assistance program, ensuring that non-opioid drugs approved by the FDA for pain management are not disadvantaged compared to opioid drugs. This protection applies immediately upon FDA approval of a non-opioid drug, regardless of its review status by the department. Additionally, health insurers and self-funded employee benefit plans are required to maintain a formulary that similarly does not disadvantage non-opioid drugs in favor of opioids.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that when a healthcare professional prescribes a non-opioid drug for pain management, insurers and self-funded plans cannot deny coverage in favor of an opioid. If there are restrictions on the coverage of non-opioid drugs, healthcare professionals must be allowed to request exceptions based on their clinical judgment regarding the appropriateness of the non-opioid treatment for their patients. This legislation aims to promote the use of non-opioid pain management options and reduce reliance on opioids.