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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri prohibits health plans from denying or charging higher cost-sharing for nonopioid acute pain medications
Last action · January 29, 2026: HCS Reported Do Pass (H)Sponsors: Brian Seitz and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
s in Missouri are prohibited from denying coverage for nonopioid prescription drugs prescribed for in favor of opioids, requiring patients to try opioids first, or charging higher cost-sharing for nonopioids starting January 1, 2027.
Patients prescribed nonopioid alternatives for are ensured equal coverage terms and pricing compared to opioid medications under covered s.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
enrollees
Enrollees gain guaranteed access to nonopioid prescription drugs for acute pain without being subjected to mandatory opioid trial periods or higher cost-sharing.
health care professional
Health care professionals prescribing nonopioid medications for acute pain are assured that health plans cannot override or penalize their prescribing decisions in favor of opioids.
Key Facts
- Prohibits health benefit plans from denying coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs for acute pain in favor of opioid prescription drugs.
- Bans health benefit plans from requiring enrollees to try an opioid prescription drug before covering a nonopioid prescription drug.
- Prohibits requiring a higher level of cost-sharing for nonopioid prescription drugs than for opioid prescription drugs.
- Defines 'acute pain' as pain expected to last thirty days or fewer resulting from disease, trauma, or other causes.
Show all 5 facts
- Applies to health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the bill require health benefit plans to do regarding nonopioid drugs?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
8 actions- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeHCS Reported Do Pass (H)
- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeHCS Voted Do Pass (H)
- Jan 29, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing Completed (H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Health and Mental Health(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
Show 2 earlier actions
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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