RI H7628

Health insurers must develop plans to provide adequate coverage and access to non-opioid pain management services, including non-narcotic medications and non-medication treatments as alternatives to opioid prescriptions, effective January 1, 2027

Insurance carriers must submit their pain management access plans to the Health Insurance Commissioner for approval, who will evaluate whether plans provide adequate access and avoid unduly preferential coverage of opioids

Carriers are required to distribute educational materials about pain management options to network providers and post plan information on their public websites

Applies to all individual and group health insurance policies with prescription coverage, including those from accident/sickness insurers, nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations

Takes effect upon passage, with coverage requirements beginning for policies delivered or renewed on or after January 1, 2027