S 475

Alternatives to PAIN Act

Summary

Alternatives to Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the Alternatives to PAIN Act This bill reduces cost-sharing and prohibits the imposition of certain utilization requirements under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for certain non-opioid pain management drugs. Specifically, the bill requires such drugs to be covered without a deductible and to be placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier (if any). The bill also prohibits the imposition of prior authorization requirements (i.e., requiring prior approval from a plan) or step therapy requirements (i.e., requiring the use of alternative drugs before a drug is covered under a plan) with respect to such drugs.

Bill status

Status
In committee
Sponsor
Sen. Thomas Tillis [R-NC]
Cosponsors
34
Policy area
Health
Introduced
2025-02-06
Latest action
2025-02-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Committee referrals

Recent actions

  • 2025-02-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • 2025-02-06: Introduced in Senate