Alternatives to PAIN Act
Sponsored By: Senator Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to non‑opioid pain drugs in Medicare Part D. The bill would remove deductibles, force these drugs onto the lowest cost‑sharing tier, and ban prior authorization and step therapy for qualifying drugs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare drug access for non-opioids
If enacted, the bill would change Medicare Part D rules for certain non-opioid pain drugs. For plan years starting January 1, 2026, the Part D deductible would not apply to qualifying drugs. Qualifying drugs would be put on a plan's lowest cost-sharing tier when the plan has tiers. Plans could not require you to try an opioid first (step therapy) or make you get prior authorization. A qualifying drug must be labeled for acute or postoperative pain and must not act on opioid receptors. It must have no U.S. therapeutic equivalent and meet a monthly cost cap set by HHS.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Katie Britt
AL • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 2/20/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2025
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 3/12/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/12/2025
Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/7/2025
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 10/7/2025
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov