Bill > H565

This bill aims to improve opioid prescribing practices and increase access to alternative pain management options in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Expanding the scope of the Health Policy Commission to consider non-opioid and non-pharmaceutical pain management options. 2. Requiring health insurance carriers to develop plans to provide adequate coverage and access to pain management services that serve as alternatives to opioid prescribing, subject to approval and accreditation by the Division of Insurance. 3. Directing the Division of Insurance to consult with the Health Policy Commission to develop guidelines for evidence-based non-opioid pain management products and services, and to review insurance carriers' pain management access plans. 4. Requiring the Division of Insurance to forward provider network documents related to mental health, substance use disorder, and pain management services to the Center for Health Information and Analysis, to help establish standards for determining the accuracy of carrier network adequacy. The overall goal of the bill is to address the opioid crisis by promoting greater access to non-opioid pain management options and improving the oversight of insurance coverage for these services.

Business and Industry

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H565