Enacts provisions relating to insurance coverage of alternatives to opioid drugs

HB 804 requires health insurance plans in Missouri to cover non-opioid pain medications when a patient has an "elevated risk of opioid misuse" (defined as having a substance use history, an advance directive limiting opioids, higher overdose risk, or medical contraindications to opioids). It prohibits insurers from denying coverage for non-opioid options, forcing patients to try opioids first, or charging higher copays for non-opioid drugs compared to opioids in these cases. The law applies to all health benefit plans issued, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2026. This directly affects patients with specific risk factors and their healthcare providers, ensuring equitable coverage for non-opioid pain treatments.