Bill > HB2642

This bill, aiming to provide insurance coverage for alternatives to opioid drugs, introduces new provisions for health benefit plans in Missouri. It defines "acute pain" as pain expected to last thirty days or fewer, and "chronic pain" as pain lasting more than twelve weeks, often beyond the expected healing time. The bill also clarifies that "enrollee," "health benefit plan," and "health care professional" have the same meanings as defined in section 376.1350 of Missouri law. Crucially, it makes it illegal for a health benefit plan to deny coverage for a non-opioid medication prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional for acute or chronic pain, to require an enrollee to try an opioid drug before covering a non-opioid, or to charge higher out-of-pocket costs for non-opioid drugs compared to opioid drugs. These new rules will take effect for health benefit plans starting January 1, 2027.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2642&year=2026&code=R