Alternatives to PAIN Act
Current understanding
The Alternatives to PAIN Act is introduced legislation that would require Medicare Part D plans to cover FDA-approved non-opioid pain management drugs without a deductible, place them on the lowest cost-sharing tier, and prohibit prior authorization and step therapy requirements for these drugs. The bill aims to reduce financial and administrative barriers to non-opioid pain treatments for Medicare beneficiaries.
Evidence log
- 2026-01-13 — NOPAIN for Veterans Act: 2025 — NOPAIN for Veterans Act (HR4509, introduced): would extend non-opioid pain management coverage concepts from the Alternatives to PAIN Act framework to veterans receiving care through the VA healthcare system. (novelty: 2)
- 2025-02-06 — Alternatives to PAIN Act: cross-connection with prior-authorization-reform: Bill would categorically prohibit prior authorization and step therapy for non-opioid pain drugs under Part D, a targeted form of prior authorization reform. (novelty: 3)