Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Nonopioid Drugs for the Treatment of Pain

HB 1013 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers, HMOs, and managed care organizations to cover FDA-approved nonopioid pain drugs to the same extent as opioid or narcotic pain drugs, starting July 1, 2026. It prohibits applying stricter prior authorization, step therapy (requiring doctors to try other drugs first), or fail-first protocols for nonopioid pain drugs than for opioids. This directly affects patients seeking nonopioid pain treatment and health plans covering prescription drugs. The bill ensures equal coverage treatment without adding new restrictions for nonopioid options, aligning with existing coverage for opioids.