Senate Bill 544 Summary

• Requires health care practitioners to offer non-opioid treatment alternatives (acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, occupational therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment, or physical therapy) as first-line treatment for acute or chronic pain when appropriate.

• Limits initial opioid prescriptions to a 5-day supply for acute pain and 7-day supply for post-operative pain, with providers immune from liability for following these limits.

• Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a voluntary non-opioid directive form allowing patients to elect non-opioid pain management, with providers protected from liability for honoring such directives.

• Mandates health insurance plans provide coverage for evidence-based non-opioid pain management care with the same copayments and deductibles as primary care, with provider reimbursement at no less than 75% of billing code rates.

• Requires health care providers to complete at least 4 hours of continuing education annually on non-opioid pain management alternatives; effective dates range from October 1, 2019, to January 1, 2020.