This bill ensures that Medicare covers certain non-opioid pain management drugs without deductibles and at lower costs starting in 2026.
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.
