MT HB774

Montana Medicaid must ensure FDA-approved nonopioid pain drugs receive equal formulary placement and utilization controls compared to opioid drugs, effective immediately upon FDA approval

Commercial insurers and self-funded plans cannot impose more restrictive coverage criteria, prior authorization, step therapy, or cost-sharing tiers on nonopioid pain drugs than the least restrictive requirements applied to opioids

Prescribers must be granted exceptions to coverage restrictions on nonopioid pain drugs when they confirm the medication is appropriate based on professional judgment

"Disadvantaged" or "discouraged" treatment includes designating nonopioids as non-preferred when opioids are preferred, or placing nonopioids on higher cost-sharing tiers than opioids

Health insurance issuers and utilization review organizations must display current prescription drug formulary information on their public websites