AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES-NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT (Requires health insurers to develop a plan to provide adequate coverage, of and access to, a broad spectrum of pain management service.)

H7628

2026 -- H 7628
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LC004442
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES-
NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT

Introduced By:
Representatives Handy, Donovan, Fogarty, and Chippendale

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance
2
Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

27-18-96. Access to pain management services.
4

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
5
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
6
on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
7
broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
8
medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
9
alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
10
by the bureau.
11

(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
12
insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
13
commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
14
to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
15
by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
16
management without consideration of other pain management services.
17

(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
18
distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under

1
subsection (a) of this section and post information about the pain management access plan on the
2
carrier's publicly accessible website.
3
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service
4
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
5

27-19-88. Access to pain management services.
6

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
7
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
8
on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
9
broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
10
medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
11
alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
12
by the bureau.
13

(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
14
insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
15
commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
16
to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
17
by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
18
management without consideration of other pain management services.
19

(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
20
distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
21
subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
22
accessible website.
23
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service
24
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
25

27-20-84. Access to pain management services.
26

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
27
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
28
on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of and access to a
29
broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
30
medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
31
alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
32
by the bureau.
33

(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
34
insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the

LC004442 - Page 2 of 4
1
commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
2
to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
3
by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
4
management without consideration of other pain management services.
5

(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
6
distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
7
subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
8
accessible website.
9
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance
10
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
11

27-41-101. Access to pain management services.
12

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
13
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state
14
on or after January 1, 2027, shall develop a plan to provide adequate coverage of, and access to, a
15
broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to, nonopioid, nonnarcotic
16
medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management services that serve as
17
alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with guidelines developed
18
by the bureau.
19

(b) Approval by health insurance commissioner. Every individual or group health
20
insurance carrier shall file a plan required under subsection (a) of this section with the
21
commissioner for approval. In its review, the commissioner shall consider the adequacy of access
22
to a broad spectrum of pain management services under the plan and whether any policies adopted
23
by the carrier may create unduly preferential coverage of and access to prescribed opioids for pain
24
management without consideration of other pain management services.
25

(c) Information for enrollees. Every individual or group health insurance carrier shall
26
distribute educational materials to network providers about a pain management access plan under
27
subsection (a) and post information about the pain management access plan on the carrier's publicly
28
accessible website.
29
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES-
NON-OPIOID PAIN TREATMENT
***
1
This act would require health insurers to develop a plan to provide adequate coverage, of
2
and access to, a broad spectrum of pain management services including, but not limited to,
3
nonopioid, nonnarcotic medication for pain management and nonmedication pain management
4
services that serve as alternatives to the prescribing of opioid or narcotic drugs in accordance with
5
guidelines developed by the bureau.
6
This act would take effect upon passage.
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