Bill > HB241

This bill mandates that health insurance providers, referred to as "health carriers," must establish a program to ensure access to a wide range of pain management services for individuals suffering from chronic pain, following guidelines set by the insurance department. These services should include non-medication and non-surgical treatments, as well as non-opioid medications, and alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and movement therapies, all intended to offer alternatives to opioid prescriptions. Health carriers are required to inform their policyholders about these programs, make the information publicly available on their websites, and educate healthcare providers within their networks about the program. Importantly, policyholders will not need prior authorization to access this pain management program, and any restrictions on non-opioid pain medications cannot be stricter than those applied to opioid medications. This initiative aims to address the opioid crisis by improving access to evidence-based, non-addictive pain management options, with the new provisions taking effect on January 1, 2027.