IL HB4777

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to prohibit the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and managed care organizations from denying coverage of nonopioid medications prescribed for acute pain in favor of opioid drugs or requiring patients to try opioids first.

Requires the Illinois Medicaid Preferred Drug List to ensure nonopioid drugs approved by the FDA for pain treatment are not disadvantaged relative to opioid drugs in coverage decisions.

Prohibits designating FDA-approved nonopioid pain medications as nonpreferred drugs if any opioid is designated as preferred on the formulary.

Prohibits establishing more restrictive prior authorization or step therapy requirements for nonopioid pain drugs than those applied to opioid drugs.

Applies requirements to nonopioid drugs immediately upon FDA approval for pain treatment and to drugs provided through managed care organization contracts with the Department.