Lawmaker wants more options to help opioid crisis

Aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis

(Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Legislation has been introduced for the 2025 General Assembly which is aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis in Kentucky, by creating parity in Medicaid coverage for non-opioid pain management therapies.

Senate Minority Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 128, modeled after similar measures successfully passed in other states like Louisiana and Tennessee, which seeks to eliminate unnecessary barriers to non-opioid alternatives by ensuring they are not subject to more restrictive prior authorization requirements than opioids.

“Opioid addiction and overdose have devastated communities across our state,” said Neal. “This bill gives physicians and patients greater flexibility in pain management without having to jump through administrative hoops that discourage the use of safer alternatives.”

Kentucky has one of the highest opioid prescription and overdose rates in the nation. According to recent data, over 58 prescriptions are dispensed for every 100 residents in Kentucky, well above the national average. The proposed legislation would remove obstacles that currently make it easier for Medicaid patients to access opioid pain treatments than FDA-approved non-opioid alternatives.

Under SB 128, the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services will be required to apply uniform utilization management practices, ensuring non-opioid therapies are not disadvantaged compared to opioids. The bill emphasizes that prescribers maintain full discretion in selecting the best pain management option for their patients.

This initiative reflects successful efforts in Louisiana and Tennessee, where similar policies were implemented with zero fiscal impact. Both states found that maintaining equitable access to non-opioid treatments did not increase Medicaid expenditures while providing critical support to patients and healthcare providers.

“By leveling the playing field, we’re taking a significant step toward curbing the over-reliance on opioids and improving overall health outcomes,” Neal added. “This policy reflects a proactive solution in addressing both acute and chronic pain without contributing to the opioid epidemic.”

Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration and Medicaid officials have expressed their support for the legislation, recognizing it as a vital measure to promote safer pain management strategies.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health Services Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.