SB 5916 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning nonopioid drugs for the treatment of pain.

Washington State's SB 5916 requires health plans and managed care organizations to treat nonopioid pain medications equally with opioids in coverage. Starting January 1, 2027, plans cannot label nonopioid drugs as "nonpreferred" when opioids are preferred, or apply stricter rules like prior authorization to nonopioids compared to opioids. The bill also mandates that the state develop an educational pamphlet about nonopioid pain treatment options, including their benefits and limitations. This directly affects health plans covering employees and their dependents, ensuring nonopioid alternatives face no coverage barriers relative to opioids.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 17, 2025 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 3 edits · Feb 11, 2026

MINOR

The bill was renamed to its final version and expanded to require health plans and their contracted benefit managers to cover specific nonopioid pain medications. Crucially, the requirement now explicitly bans 'prescription drug utilization management' (PDUM), meaning these drugs cannot be subject to prior authorization or step therapy protocols, ensuring immediate access without extra hurdles for patients.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include health care benefit managers (BCMs) that contract directly or indirectly with health plans, in addition to the health plans themselves.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement to cover nonopioid pain drugs was strengthened by explicitly prohibiting 'prescription drug utilization management,' which previously allowed for prior authorization or step therapy protocols.

DEFINITION

The term 'nonopioid drug' was updated to 'nonopioid legend drug' to specify that the coverage requirement applies to prescription-strength medications.

SCOPE

The obligation to provide coverage was extended to include health care benefit managers that contract with health plans, ensuring the rule applies throughout the insurance supply chain.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors