This bill (S.F. No. 1946) proposed in the Minnesota Senate requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for non-opioid and non-pharmacologic pain management options.

Key Provisions:

1. Coverage Requirements:

   • Health plans must cover alternatives to opioid prescriptions for pain management.
   • Coverage must include at least:
     • Two FDA-approved non-opioid prescription drugs (not classified as Schedule I, II, or III controlled substances).
     • Three non-pharmacologic, non-operative treatment options.

2. Prohibitions:

   • Health plans cannot give preferential coverage to opioids.
   • They cannot impose stricter utilization controls (such as prior authorization or step therapy) on clinically appropriate non-opioid medications compared to opioid drugs.

3. Educational Materials:

   • Health plan companies must distribute educational materials annually to in-network healthcare providers and enrollees about available pain management options.
   • These materials must also be made publicly accessible on the health plan’s website.

This bill aims to promote safer pain management practices and reduce opioid dependency by ensuring broader insurance coverage for alternative treatments.