Oregon Senate Votes to Stop Insurance Companies From Making Non-Opioid Pain Relief Harder to Get Than Opioids

The majority of Oregon Senators came out in favor on Monday of new legislation that will prohibit insurers from classifying non-opioid pain medication differently from prescribed drugs.

The Senate has passed Senate Bill 598 with a 23-6 vote, mandating that health insurance providers cover at least one non-opioid alternative for every opioid medication prescribed. The goal is to make non-opioid pain treatments more affordable and accessible to patients.

The legislation also blocks insurers from imposing higher out-of-pocket expenses or more burdensome approval requirements on non-opioid options compared to opioids.

Prohibits Insurers From Introducing Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs

The bill also prohibits health insurers from enforcing higher out-of-pocket costs and stricter approval processes on non-opioid alternative treatments.

However, health insurers are opposed to the legislation, believing it could drive up costs and fail to improve patient outcomes.

A drug addiction crisis is sweeping the entire US and the CDC recommends that doctors rather prescribe non-opioids to treat pain where appropriate. Recommended alternative medications are ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

The legislation will extend to both private health plans and public insurance programs, including those managed by the Oregon Health Authority, such as the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and the Public Employees’ Benefit Board.

If the bill is passed, it will modestly increase insurance premiums, costing an additional $800,000 in the upcoming two-year budget cycle.