This bill aims to amend the West Virginia Code to promote the use of non-opioid medications for pain management by prohibiting discrimination against these drugs in insurance coverage. It introduces new sections that define "nonopioid" drugs and establishes that the Public Employees Insurance Agency, the Bureau for Medical Services, and other insurers cannot disadvantage or discourage non-opioid medications compared to opioid drugs. Additionally, it mandates that non-opioid drugs be placed in the lowest formulary tier, which typically has the lowest copays, to enhance their competitiveness against generic opioids. The bill also allows for existing utilization reviews to continue.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing provisions related to opioid prescriptions, requiring healthcare practitioners to inform patients about non-opioid alternatives and to consider these options before prescribing opioids. It emphasizes the patient's right to refuse opioid treatment and mandates that insurance providers cover non-opioid prescriptions when prescribed for pain management. The legislation reflects a comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis by encouraging the use of non-opioid treatments and ensuring equitable insurance coverage for these alternatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-54-3, 16-54-8, 5-16-7h, 9-5-33, 16-54-8a, 33-15-4y, 33-16-3ii, 33-24-7z, 33-25-8w, 33-25A-8w