Senate health committee unanimously backs SB56 to expand access to non-opioid acute pain treatments

The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services voted unanimously to give Senate Bill 56 a favorable recommendation after sponsor testimony and personal testimony from a recovery advocate.

Senator Gerald Neal (33rd Central District), sponsor of SB56, told the committee the bill would "prohibit the Department for Medicaid Services, any Medicaid managed care organization contracted by the department and the Medicaid state pharmacy benefit manager from denying coverage for a non-opioid analgesic in favor of an opioid analgesic" or "establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization controls for non-opioid analgesics than the least restrictive controls for any opioid or narcotic analgesic." Neal said the measure is intended to ensure patients and physicians have meaningful access to non-opioid alternatives for acute pain.

The bill, Neal said, is designed to prevent prior authorization and step-therapy rules from disadvantaging non-opioid options. "If a patient and their physician decide a non-opioid option is best for them," Neal said, "this legislation ensures non-opioid access is not disadvantaged compared to opioids."

Billy O'Brien of Young People in Recovery testified in support and described personal experience seeking non-opioid options while in long-term recovery. He said a surgical team repeatedly attempted to prescribe opioids despite his stated preference against them and that, on another occasion, his wife — also in recovery — was offered only over-the-counter medicine in the emergency department when she required stronger pain management. "She needed compassionate, effective care in that moment," O'Brien said.

Committee members questioned whether non-opioid medicines would often be used in combination with opioids and discussed historical cost barriers. Senator Don Douglas noted the higher cost of some non-opioid medications in earlier years; Senator Mills said cost differentials were a practical reason providers often prescribed opioids. Neal and witnesses argued that, with newer medication options available, Medicaid coverage rules should not make non-opioids harder to obtain.

A motion to give SB56 a favorable recommendation carried by roll call, 10 ayes, 0 noes. The chair said the bill will be scheduled for consideration on the Senate floor.

Next step: SB56 will move to the full Senate for further consideration.