Increasing availability of prescription non-opioid medications

This bill requires healthcare providers to discuss non-opioid pain treatment options - including physical therapy, acupuncture, and other alternatives - with patients before prescribing strong opioids. It mandates that insurance companies cover up to 20 visits per pain episode for these non-opioid treatments (like physical therapy or chiropractic care) without higher out-of-pocket costs than a regular doctor visit. The state health department must also create and publish an online educational resource about non-opioid pain management options. These changes directly affect doctors, insurers, and patients seeking pain treatment in West Virginia.