The bill aims to promote the use of nonopioid drugs for pain management by prohibiting health plans and managed care organizations from implementing practices that disadvantage these alternatives compared to opioid or narcotic drugs. Specifically, starting January 1, 2027, health plans cannot designate nonopioid drugs as nonpreferred if any opioid is preferred, nor can they impose more restrictive prescription drug utilization management practices, such as prior authorization or step therapy, on nonopioid drugs than those applied to opioids. The bill also defines "nonopioid drug" as a product approved by the FDA that provides pain relief without acting on opioid receptors.

Additionally, the bill mandates the development of an educational pamphlet by the Department of Health by January 1, 2027, which will provide information on nonopioid alternatives and their advantages and disadvantages. It also amends existing definitions in RCW 48.43.400 to include references to the new sections introduced in the bill, ensuring that the definitions of prescription drug utilization management, prior authorization, and step therapy protocols are consistent across the relevant statutes.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 48.43.400