Bill > S863

This bill introduces comprehensive provisions to improve chronic pain management and treatment within Massachusetts's Medicaid system. First, it mandates that health insurers and managed care organizations cannot disadvantage non-opioid pain medications compared to opioid medications, which means preventing less favorable drug list placements or creating more restrictive authorization procedures. Second, the bill requires the division of medical assistance to ensure accessible, quality healthcare for chronic pain patients, including comprehensive integrated care management with a wide range of providers such as primary care physicians, specialists, physical therapists, and mental health professionals. The bill also requires Medicaid managed care organizations to develop a chronic pain quality strategy by fiscal year 2026, which includes timely identification of members with chronic pain, building adequate provider networks, implementing care coordination strategies, and providing specialized provider training on multidisciplinary pain care. Additionally, the bill mandates the establishment of a data collection center to study chronic pain's incidence, prevalence, demographics, risk factors, healthcare costs, and treatment effectiveness, with a requirement to publish comprehensive reports every two years. The overall goal is to improve pain management, reduce opioid dependency, and provide more holistic, patient-centered care for individuals experiencing chronic pain.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S863