HB 2296

                                 SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                    HOUSE BILL NO. 2296
                           103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                           INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE HADEN.
 5476H.01I  JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
                                            AN ACT
 To amend chapter 376, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to insurance
       coverage of alternatives to opioid drugs.
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
        Section A. Chapter 376, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 376.1280, to read as follows:
        376.1280. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
2(1) "Acute pain", pain that results from disease, accidental or intentional
3 trauma, or other causes, that a health care provider reasonably expects to last thirty
4 days or fewer;
5(2) "Enrollee", the same meaning given to the term in section 376.1350;
6(3) "Health benefit plan", the same meaning given to the term in section
7 376.1350;
8(4) "Health care professional", the same meaning given to the term in section
9 376.1350.
102. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, when a licensed health
11 care professional acting within the scope of his or her license prescribes a nonopioid
12 medication for the treatment of acute pain to an enrollee, it shall be unlawful for a
13 health benefit plan to:
14(1) Deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid
15 prescription drug;
16(2) Require the enrollee to try an opioid prescription drug before providing
17 coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug; or
 EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
 intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 2296  2
18      (3) Require a higher level of cost-sharing for the nonopioid prescription drug
19 than for an opioid prescription drug.
20      3. This section shall apply to health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery,
21 continued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
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