H7628

	2026 -- H 7628
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	LC004442
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES-
	NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT

	Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Donovan, Fogarty, and Chippendale
	Date Introduced: February 11, 2026
	Referred To: House Health & Human Services
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance
2	Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3	27-18-96. Access to pain management services.
4	(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
5	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
6	on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
7	broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
8	medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
9	alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
10	by the bureau.
11	(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
12	insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
13	commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
14	to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
15	by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
16	management without consideration of other pain management services.
17	(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
18	distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under

1	subsection (a) of this section and post information about the pain management access plan on the
2	carrier's publicly accessible website.
3	SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service
4	Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
5	27-19-88. Access to pain management services.
6	(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
7	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
8	on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
9	broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
10	medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
11	alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
12	by the bureau.
13	(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
14	insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
15	commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
16	to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
17	by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
18	management without consideration of other pain management services.
19	(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
20	distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
21	subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
22	accessible website.
23	SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service
24	Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
25	27-20-84. Access to pain management services.
26	(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
27	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
28	on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
29	broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
30	medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
31	alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
32	by the bureau.
33	(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
34	insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
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1	commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
2	to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
3	by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
4	management without consideration of other pain management services.
5	(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
6	distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
7	subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
8	accessible website.
9	SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance
10	Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
11	27-41-101. Access to pain management services.
12	(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
13	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
14	on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of, and access to, a
15	broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
16	medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
17	alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
18	by the bureau.
19	(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
20	insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
21	commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
22	to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
23	by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
24	management without consideration of other pain management services.
25	(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
26	distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
27	subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
28	accessible website.
29	SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES-
	NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT
	***
1	This act would require health insurers to develop a plan to provide adequate coverage, of
2	and access to, a broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to,
3	nonopioid, nonnarcotic medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management
4	services that serve as alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with
5	guidelines developed by the bureau.
6	This act would take effect upon passage.
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