SB3781 - Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act

• Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet on nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment in accordance with CDC guidelines.

• Mandates health care practitioners to consider and discuss nonopioid alternatives with patients before prescribing opioids, and to document reasons for opioid prescriptions (with exceptions for emergency departments, critical care units, and hospice care).

• Allows patients to execute a "nonopioid directive form" to refuse opioid medications, which health care practitioners and emergency medical services personnel must honor except in medical emergencies.

• Prohibits health insurance issuers from denying coverage of nonopioid pain medications in favor of opioids or requiring patients to try opioids first, and requires equitable drug formulary treatment for FDA-approved nonopioid pain drugs.

• Applies the same nonopioid coverage protections to Illinois Medicaid and managed care organizations to prevent discrimination against nonopioid medications on preferred drug lists.