103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3781 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new305 ILCS 5/5-55 new Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment. Provides that a health care practitioner shall exercise professional judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for pain in accordance with specified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the use of nonopioid alternatives whenever nonopioid alternatives exist. Requires a health care practitioner who prescribes an opioid drug to provide certain information to the patient, discuss certain topics, and document the reasons for the prescription. Requires the Department to develop a nonopioid directive form for patients. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, execution of a nonopioid directive, opioid administration to a patient with a nonopioid directive, and limitations of liability. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage. Provides that in establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor a managed care organization shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. Makes other changes. LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3781 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new305 ILCS 5/5-55 new New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment. Provides that a health care practitioner shall exercise professional judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for pain in accordance with specified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the use of nonopioid alternatives whenever nonopioid alternatives exist. Requires a health care practitioner who prescribes an opioid drug to provide certain information to the patient, discuss certain topics, and document the reasons for the prescription. Requires the Department to develop a nonopioid directive form for patients. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, execution of a nonopioid directive, opioid administration to a patient with a nonopioid directive, and limitations of liability. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage. Provides that in establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor a managed care organization shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. Makes other changes. LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3781 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new305 ILCS 5/5-55 new New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment. Provides that a health care practitioner shall exercise professional judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for pain in accordance with specified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the use of nonopioid alternatives whenever nonopioid alternatives exist. Requires a health care practitioner who prescribes an opioid drug to provide certain information to the patient, discuss certain topics, and document the reasons for the prescription. Requires the Department to develop a nonopioid directive form for patients. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, execution of a nonopioid directive, opioid administration to a patient with a nonopioid directive, and limitations of liability. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage. Provides that in establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor a managed care organization shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. Makes other changes. LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b A BILL FOR SB3781LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 AN ACT concerning health. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. 6 Section 3. Findings. The General Assembly finds that every 7 competent adult has the fundamental right of 8 self-determination regarding decisions pertaining to that 9 adult's own health, including the right to refuse an opioid 10 drug. 11 Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act: 12 "Department" means the Department of Public Health. 13 "Emergency medical services personnel" has the meaning 14 given to that term in Section 3.5 of the Emergency Medical 15 Services (EMS) Systems Act. 16 "Health care practitioner" means a person licensed or 17 registered by the Department of Financial and Professional 18 Regulation under the following Acts: the Medical Practice Act 19 of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Clinical Psychologist 20 Licensing Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, 21 the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, 22 the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Clinical 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3781 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Karina Villa SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new305 ILCS 5/5-55 new New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment. Provides that a health care practitioner shall exercise professional judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for pain in accordance with specified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the use of nonopioid alternatives whenever nonopioid alternatives exist. Requires a health care practitioner who prescribes an opioid drug to provide certain information to the patient, discuss certain topics, and document the reasons for the prescription. Requires the Department to develop a nonopioid directive form for patients. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, execution of a nonopioid directive, opioid administration to a patient with a nonopioid directive, and limitations of liability. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage. Provides that in establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor a managed care organization shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. Makes other changes. LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b A BILL FOR New Act 215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new 305 ILCS 5/5-55 new LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 2 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 2 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 2 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Nursing Home 2 Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois 3 Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Podiatric Medical 4 Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the 5 Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor 6 Licensing and Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language 7 Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Illinois Dental 8 Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, or the 9 Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. 10 "Nonopioid directive form" means the form developed under 11 Section 20. 12 "Prescriber" has the meaning given to that term in 13 subsection (mm) of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled 14 Substances Act. 15 Section 10. Nonopioid alternatives pamphlet. The 16 Department of Public Health shall develop and publish on its 17 website an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid 18 alternatives for the treatment of acute nonoperative, acute 19 perioperative, subacute, or chronic pain. The pamphlet shall, 20 at a minimum, conform with the most current CDC Clinical 21 Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain published 22 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and shall 23 include: 24 (1) information on available nonopioid alternatives 25 for the treatment of pain, including available nonopioid SB3781 - 2 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 3 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 3 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 3 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 medicinal drugs or drug products and nonpharmacological 2 therapies; and 3 (2) the advantages and disadvantages of the use of 4 nonopioid alternatives. 5 Section 15. Prescription of opioids. 6 (a) A health care practitioner shall exercise professional 7 judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for 8 acute nonoperative, acute perioperative, subacute, or chronic 9 pain in accordance with the most current CDC Clinical Practice 10 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain published by the 11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the use 12 of nonopioid alternatives whenever reasonable, clinically 13 appropriate, and evidence-based alternatives exist. 14 (b) The health care practitioner shall consider 15 prescribing nonopioids as the first line of pain control in 16 patients, unless the prescription is not clinically 17 appropriate, in accordance with subsection (a). 18 (c) Except when a patient is receiving care in a hospital 19 critical care unit or emergency department or a patient is 20 receiving hospice services under Hospice Program Licensing 21 Act, before providing care requiring the administration of 22 anesthesia involving the use of an opioid drug, or prescribing 23 or ordering an opioid drug for the treatment of pain, a health 24 care practitioner who prescribes or orders an opioid drug must 25 do all of the following: SB3781 - 3 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 4 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 4 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 4 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 (1) Inform the patient or the patient's representative 2 of available nonopioid alternatives for the treatment of 3 pain, which may include available nonopioid medicinal 4 drugs or drug products, interventional procedures or 5 treatments, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, massage 6 therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or any 7 other appropriate therapy as determined by the health care 8 practitioner. 9 (2) Discuss with the patient or the patient's 10 representative the advantages and disadvantages of the use 11 of nonopioid alternatives and whether the patient is at a 12 high risk of, or has a history of, controlled substance 13 abuse or misuse and the patient's personal preferences. 14 (3) Provide the patient or the patient's 15 representative, electronically or in printed form, with 16 the educational pamphlet described in Section 10. 17 (4) Document in the patient's record that nonopioid 18 alternatives were considered and discussed with the 19 patient or the patient's representative and, to the extent 20 that the health care practitioner prescribes or orders an 21 opioid for the treatment of pain, document the reasons for 22 such a prescription or order. 23 Section 20. Nonopioid directive form. The Department shall 24 develop a nonopioid directive form indicating to health care 25 practitioners and emergency medical services personnel that, SB3781 - 4 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 5 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 5 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 5 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 except as otherwise provided in Section 30 or in rules adopted 2 by the Department, a patient who has executed the form or who 3 has had a form executed on the patient's behalf must not be 4 administered an opioid or offered a prescription for an 5 opioid. The Department shall include on the nonopioid 6 directive form instructions on how the form may be revoked and 7 any other information that the Department considers relevant. 8 The Department shall make the form available to the public on 9 the Department's website. 10 Section 25. Nonopioid directive form; execution. A patient 11 may execute a nonopioid directive form on his or her own 12 behalf. A guardian or patient advocate of a patient may 13 execute a nonopioid directive form on behalf of the patient. 14 If a nonopioid directive form is executed by or on behalf of a 15 patient and is presented to a health care practitioner, the 16 health care practitioner shall obtain a copy of the form and 17 include the copy in the patient's medical record. A patient 18 may revoke a nonopioid directive form executed by himself or 19 herself at any time and in any manner by which he or she is 20 able to communicate his or her intent to revoke the form. A 21 patient advocate or guardian may revoke a nonopioid directive 22 form on behalf of a patient at any time by issuing the 23 revocation in writing and providing notice of the revocation 24 to the patient's health professional or his or her delegate. SB3781 - 5 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 6 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 6 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 6 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 Section 30. Administration of an opioid to a patient who 2 has executed a nonopioid directive form. A prescriber who 3 holds a controlled substances license or a health care 4 practitioner who is a practical nurse or registered 5 professional nurse and is acting on the order of the 6 prescriber may administer an opioid to a patient who has 7 executed a nonopioid directive form or who has had a nonopioid 8 directive form executed on his or her behalf if the patient is 9 being treated at a hospital or in a setting outside of a 10 hospital in the case of an emergency and, in the prescriber's 11 professional opinion, the administration of the opioid is 12 medically necessary to treat the patient. If an opioid is 13 administered under this Section, the prescriber shall ensure 14 that the patient is provided with information on substance use 15 disorder services. 16 Section 35. Limitation of liability. Except as otherwise 17 provided by law, the following are not subject to civil or 18 criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for 19 failing to administer, prescribe, or dispense an opioid, or 20 for the inadvertent administration of an opioid, to a patient 21 who has executed a nonopioid directive form or who has had a 22 nonopioid directive form executed on his or her behalf if the 23 failure to act or the act was done reasonably and in good 24 faith: 25 (1) A health care practitioner whose scope of practice SB3781 - 6 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 7 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 7 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 7 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 includes the prescribing, administering, or dispensing of 2 a controlled substance. 3 (2) A health facility or agency. 4 (3) An employee of a health care practitioner. 5 (4) An employee of a health facility or agency. 6 (5) Emergency medical services personnel. 7 Section 40. Rulemaking. The Department shall adopt rules 8 to implement this Act. The rules must allow a health care 9 practitioner or health facility or agency to incorporate a 10 nonopioid directive form into an existing patient form or into 11 other documentation used by the health care practitioner or 12 health facility or agency, and the rules must include, but not 13 be limited to, all of the following: 14 (1) Procedures to record a nonopioid directive form in 15 a medical record, including an electronic medical record. 16 (2) Procedures to revoke a nonopioid directive form. 17 (3) Procedures to ensure that the recording, 18 disclosure, or distribution of data relating to a 19 nonopioid directive form or the transmission of a 20 nonopioid directive form complies with State and federal 21 confidentiality and consent laws, rules, and regulations. 22 (4) Exemptions for administering or prescribing an 23 opioid to a patient who has executed a nonopioid directive 24 form or who has had a nonopioid directive form executed on 25 his or her behalf if the opioid is administered or SB3781 - 7 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 8 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 8 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 8 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 prescribed to treat the patient for a substance use 2 disorder. 3 (5) Exemptions for administering or prescribing an 4 opioid to a patient who has executed a nonopioid directive 5 form or who has had a nonopioid directive form executed on 6 his or her behalf if the patient is a hospice patient. 7 Section 100. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by 8 adding Section 370c.3 as follows: 9 (215 ILCS 5/370c.3 new) 10 Sec. 370c.3. Coverage for nonopioid medications; pain 11 relief parity. 12 (a) In this Section, "health insurance issuer" has the 13 meaning set forth in Section 5 of the Illinois Health 14 Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. 15 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 16 when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a 17 nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall 18 be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of 19 the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid 20 prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid 21 prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid 22 prescription drug. 23 (c) In establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a 24 health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug SB3781 - 8 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 9 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 9 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 9 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for 2 the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or 3 discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, 4 relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or 5 management of pain on the health insurance issuer's drug 6 formulary, where impermissible disadvantaging or 7 discouragement includes, without limitation: imposing more 8 restrictive coverage criteria on any such nonopioid drug than 9 the least restrictive coverage criteria imposed on an opioid 10 or narcotic drug; establishing more restrictive or more 11 extensive utilization controls, including, but not limited to, 12 more restrictive or more extensive prior authorization or step 13 therapy requirements, for such nonopioid drug than the least 14 restrictive or extensive utilization controls applicable to 15 any such opioid or narcotic drug; or, if the health insurance 16 issuer maintains a drug formulary grouped into tiers for the 17 purposes of determining cost sharing, placing any such 18 nonopioid drug on a tier that requires a cost-sharing 19 responsibility that exceeds the lowest cost-sharing 20 responsibility required for any opioid or narcotic drug on the 21 drug formulary. 22 This subsection applies to a nonopioid drug immediately 23 upon its approval by the United States Food and Drug 24 Administration for the treatment or management of pain. 25 Section 105. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by SB3781 - 9 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 10 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 10 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 10 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b 1 adding Section 5-55 as follows: 2 (305 ILCS 5/5-55 new) 3 Sec. 5-55. Coverage for nonopioid medications; pain relief 4 parity. 5 (a) Required coverage for nonopioid medications. 6 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, whenever 7 a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid 8 medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the 9 Department nor a managed care organization contracted with the 10 Department shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription 11 drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a 12 patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing 13 coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. 14 (b) Pain relief parity. In establishing and maintaining 15 the Illinois Medicaid Preferred Drug List, the Department 16 shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the U.S. Food 17 and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of 18 pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to 19 coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the 20 treatment or management of pain on the Illinois Medicaid 21 Preferred Drug List, where impermissible disadvantaging or 22 discouragement includes, without limitation: designating any 23 such nonopioid drug as a nonpreferred drug if any opioid or 24 narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug; or 25 establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization SB3781 - 10 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781- 11 -LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 11 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 11 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b SB3781 - 11 - LRB103 39079 RPS 69217 b