§1060.7. Prescription medication for chronic pain

            A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, when a licensed physician prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of chronic 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.

            B. When an opioid prescription is deemed medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed physician, it shall be unlawful for an insurer to deny a prescribed medication and attempt to substitute an alternative medication that requires any of the following:

            (1) An increased number of pills per prescription.

            (2) A higher Drug Enforcement Administration schedule medication than the one prescribed.

            (3) The substitution of an extended release medication that does not have defined abuse deterrent properties for a prescription of a medication that does have defined abuse deterrent properties.

            Acts 2018, No. 372, §1; Acts 2018, No. 372, §1.