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SB 3022

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 3 co-sponsors

Requires Rhode Island plans to ensure access to nonopioid pain management options and limit restrictive reviews for nonopioid therapies starting 2027.

06/05/2026 Referred to House Health & Human Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 3022

Overview

SB 3022, introduced in Rhode Island’s 2026 session, would require a broad set of health insurance products and the state’s medical assistance program to ensure access to nonopioid and nonnarcotic pain management options. The measure aims to reduce reliance on opioids by mandating plan development, limiting restrictive utilization reviews for nonopioid therapies, and providing educational information to enrollees and providers. The changes apply to commercial insurance (including individual, group plans), nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and the Rhode Island Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid).

Purpose and intent

  • Expand access to comprehensive pain management options beyond opioids.
  • Ensure that plans cover a broad spectrum of pain management services and nonopioid treatments.
  • Prevent undue preferential coverage of opioids by requiring plans to consider nonopioid options on an equal footing.
  • Limit utilization review practices (e.g., prior authorization, step therapy) that would be more restrictive for nonopioid, nonopioid medications than for opioids.
  • Provide educational information to enrollees and network providers about pain management options and the approved plan.

Key provisions and changes

  • Coverage plans required: Plans delivered in Rhode Island on or after January 1, 2027 must develop and obtain approval for a plan to provide adequate coverage and access to:
    • Nonopioid, nonnarcotic medications for pain management.
    • Nonmedication pain management services (e.g., therapies, modalities) as alternatives to opioids.
    • Guidelines to be developed by the RI Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC).
  • Utilization review: Plans may not apply any utilization review for FDA-approved nonopioid pain treatments that is more restrictive than the least restrictive review for opioid/narcotic drugs.
  • OHIC approval: Each plan must be filed with OHIC for approval, with consideration given to access to a broad pain management spectrum and avoidance of opioid-preferential policies.
  • Information for enrollees: Carriers must distribute educational materials to network providers and post information about the pain management plan on their publicly accessible websites.
  • Scope of application: Provisions apply to:
    • General health insurance contracts, plans, or policies with prescription coverage.
    • All entities under Rhode Island General Laws Chapters 27-18, 27-19, 27-20, 27-41.
    • All such policies delivered or renewed in-state on or after January 1, 2027.
  • Medicaid provisions (Section 5): The RI Medical Assistance Program and its MCO contracts shall not impose more restrictive utilization reviews on nonopioid, FDA-approved pain treatments than those for opioids. Managed care contracts must reflect this requirement.

Who/what is affected

  • Individual and group health insurance carriers in Rhode Island that provide prescription coverage.
  • Rhode Island nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations.
  • Rhode Island Medicaid managed care organizations and their contracts.
  • Network providers and enrollees receiving pain management services under these plans.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Provisions take effect for plans delivered, issued, renewed, or contracted in-state on or after January 1, 2027.
  • Plan approvals: OHIC must review and approve each carrier’s pain management plan before or as part of the implementation.
  • Compliance and information dissemination: Carriers must provide education to providers and post information publicly.

Summary

SB 3022 seeks to reduce opioid reliance by mandating comprehensive access to nonopioid pain management options across public and private insurers in Rhode Island, with strong emphasis on plan design, nonrestrictive utilization review for nonopioid therapies, OHIC oversight, and clear patient/provider information. The bill aligns Medicaid and commercial plans under a unified standard to ensure broader, safer pain management choices beginning in 2027.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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