House Bill 37 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the use of drugs for pain management, specifically focusing on the inclusion and reimbursement of non-opioid treatments in group insurance plans. The bill introduces a new part to Title 56, Chapter 7, defining key terms such as "group insurance plan," "healthcare prescriber," "insurer," and "non-opioid treatment." It mandates that insurers must not disadvantage non-opioid drugs approved by the FDA for pain management in their preferred drug lists (PDL) compared to opioid medications. Furthermore, the bill ensures that non-opioid treatments are covered immediately upon FDA approval, regardless of prior review by the insurer.

Additionally, the bill requires insurers to provide reimbursement to healthcare prescribers for non-opioid treatments given to covered employees and ensures that hospitals are reimbursed separately for non-opioid treatments provided during inpatient or outpatient services. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, emphasizing the importance of promoting non-opioid alternatives in pain management strategies within the state's healthcare system.