Install
Alternatives to PAIN Act
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure appropriate access to non-opioid pain management drugs under part D of the Medicare program.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Alternatives to Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the Alternatives to PAIN Act
This bill reduces cost-sharing and prohibits the imposition of certain utilization requirements under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for certain non-opioid pain management drugs.
Specifically, the bill requires such drugs to be covered without a deductible and to be placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier (if any). The bill also prohibits the imposition of prior authorization requirements (i.e., requiring prior approval from a plan) or step therapy requirements (i.e., requiring the use of alternative drugs before a drug is covered under a plan) with respect to such drugs.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Feb 6, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Feb 6, 2025 Introduced in Senate
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