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HB 2852

Relating to emergency preparedness public contracting preferences.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Evans

Illinois requires insurers to cover nonopioid pain options and Medicaid parity for nonopioids, plus a DPH educational pamphlet; effective 2027.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2852

HB 2852 — Nonopioid Alternatives Act (Illinois)

Status: Enacted (Signed by Governor 2025-05-02). Effective: January 1, 2027 (as shown in bill text).
Citations added: 20 ILCS 2310/2310‑735; 215 ILCS 5/370c.3; 305 ILCS 5/5‑58.

Main purpose

To increase awareness of and access to nonopioid pain‑management options and to promote parity for nonopioid therapies and medications in public and private health coverage as alternatives to prescribing opioids.

Key provisions

  • Department of Public Health (DPH) pamphlet (20 ILCS 2310/2310‑735)

    • DPH may develop and publish an educational pamphlet on its website about nonopioid alternatives for acute nonoperative, acute perioperative, subacute, and chronic pain.
    • The pamphlet may follow the U.S. HHS Pain Management Best Practices recommendations and must include available nonopioid medicinal products and nonpharmacological therapies, plus advantages and disadvantages of nonopioid options.

  • Private insurance: plan for nonopioid pain management (215 ILCS 5/370c.3)

    • Beginning January 1, 2027, each health insurance issuer must develop a plan to provide adequate coverage and access to a broad spectrum of pain‑management services (including nonopioid, nonnarcotic options) that serve as alternatives to opioid prescribing.
    • Insurers must file that plan with the Department of Insurance and post information about the plan on their publicly accessible websites.

  • Medicaid / Public Aid: Preferred Drug List parity (305 ILCS 5/5‑58)

    • When establishing and maintaining the Illinois Medicaid Preferred Drug List, the Department (Medicaid) must ensure that nonopioid drugs preferred on the list for treatment or management of pain are not disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug.
    • The Department retains authority to manage the Preferred Drug List, including rules and policies, provided such authority is not undermined.

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Illinois Department of Public Health, Department of Insurance, and the Medicaid administering Department.
  • Health insurance issuers (private insurers): required to develop and post pain‑management plans.
  • Managed care organizations contracting with Medicaid.
  • Health care practitioners and patients: increased educational resources and coverage expectations for nonopioid alternatives.
  • Pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (indirectly), via formulary and utilization decisions.

Potential impact

  • Promotes greater awareness of nonopioid therapies (both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic).
  • Moves insurers toward formally integrating nonopioid options into coverage planning and increases transparency (public filing/posting of plans).
  • Seeks formulary parity for nonopioid medications in Medicaid; may reduce barriers (e.g., formulary placement, potentially restrictive utilization controls) though the bill as amended focuses on parity and plan requirements rather than explicitly banning specific utilization controls such as step therapy.
  • Could increase insurer administrative obligations and influence prescribing patterns and patient access to nonopioid alternatives; potential fiscal impacts depend on insurer implementation and cost of covered alternatives.

Legislative history (selected)

  • Introduced: 2025-02-06 (Rep. Janet Yang Rohr). Committee and floor actions in March–April 2025. Passed both chambers and transmitted to Governor. Signed by Governor: 2025-05-02. Effective date in bill: 2027 (see above).

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

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