NONOPIOID ALTERNATIVES ACT House SponsorsRep. Janet Yang Rohr-Lindsey LaPointe-William E Hauter-Kevin Schmidt, Laura Faver Dias and La Shawn K. Ford Senate Sponsors(Sen. Karina Villa, Mike Porfirio, Cristina Castro, Natalie Toro, Mary Edly-Allen, Adriane Johnson, Julie A. Morrison, Laura Fine, Michael W. Halpin, Christopher Belt-Mattie Hunter, Robert Peters-Kimberly A. Lightford, Sara Feigenholtz, Javier L. Cervantes and Doris Turner) 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die 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.House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to:New ActAdds reference to:20 ILCS 2310/2310-730 newRemoves all of the provisions of the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act except for the provisions requiring the Department of Public Health to develop and publish on its website an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for the treatment of acute nonoperative, acute perioperative, subacute, or chronic pain. Moves those provisions to the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions amending the Illinois Insurance Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code, removes language providing that the provisions apply to a nonopioid drug immediately upon its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall ensure that nonopioid drugs preferred on the Department's preferred drug list, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for the treatment or management of pain shall not be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain (instead of with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain on the Illinois Medicaid Preferred Drug List, where impermissible disadvantaging or discouragement includes, without limitation: designating any such nonopioid drug as a nonpreferred drug if any opioid or narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug; or establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization). Removes language concerning the applicability of the provisions to drugs provided under a contract between the Department and a managed care organization. Provides that the changes to the Illinois Insurance Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code are effective January 1, 2026. 2/9/2024HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe 2/9/2024HouseFirst Reading 2/9/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee 3/5/2024HouseAssigned to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee 3/7/2024HouseChief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Janet Yang Rohr 3/7/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe 4/2/2024HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee; 010-000-000 4/3/2024HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 4/12/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias 4/16/2024HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr 4/16/2024HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 4/17/2024HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee 4/17/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William E Hauter 4/17/2024HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 4/17/2024HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 4/17/2024HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee; 011-000-000 4/18/2024HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt 4/18/2024HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted 4/18/2024HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 4/18/2024HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-000-000 4/19/2024SenateArrive in Senate 4/19/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/19/2024SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa 4/19/2024SenateFirst Reading 4/19/2024SenateReferred to Assignments 5/15/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford 12/3/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio 12/5/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro 12/5/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Natalie Toro 12/5/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen 12/10/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson 12/10/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison 12/11/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine 12/13/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin 12/16/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt 12/16/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 12/16/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters 12/17/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford 12/19/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz 12/20/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes 12/20/2024SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die