IllinoisSB1238104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

NONOPIOID ALTERNATIVES

Sponsored By: Karina Villa (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Department of Public Health to develop and publish on its website a nonopioid alternatives pamphlet, with certain requirements. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that coverage shall not be denied for a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Requires that nonopioid drugs preferred on a specific list for the treatment or management of pain shall not be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Effective July 1, 2027.

assignmentsinsurancehealth care availability & accessibility

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Insurers must plan for pain treatment alternatives

Beginning January 1, 2027, health insurers must develop plans for adequate coverage and access to a broad range of pain treatments. These must include nonopioid, nonnarcotic medicines and treatments without medication as alternatives to opioids or narcotics. Insurers must follow Illinois Department of Insurance guidelines and file their plans with the department. They must also post information about their plans on publicly accessible websites. The law does not set coverage amounts or specific patient savings.

Medicaid protects coverage for nonopioid pain drugs

Illinois Medicaid must not give qualifying nonopioid pain drugs worse coverage or discourage their use compared with opioids for acute pain. Nonopioid drugs qualify when they are FDA-approved for pain treatment or management and on Medicaid’s Preferred Drug List. This protection applies while the state retains authority to manage that list and that authority is not undermined.

State may publish nonopioid pain guide

The Illinois Department of Public Health may create and publish a pamphlet on its website about nonopioid pain treatments. It can address short-term pain without surgery, pain around surgery, pain lasting beyond the acute stage, and chronic pain. Any pamphlet must explain available nonopioid medicines and therapies without medication, including their benefits and drawbacks. It may follow federal pain-management task force recommendations. Publication is optional, and the law sets no deadline.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karina Villa

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Cristina Castro

    Democratic • Senate

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janet Yang Rohr

    Democratic • House

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie A. Morrison

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kevin Schmidt

    Republican • House

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Fine

    Democratic • Senate

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Lindsey LaPointe

    Democratic • House

  • Mark L. Walker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mattie Hunter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michael W. Halpin

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Porfirio

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Robert Peters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Seth Lewis

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 189 • No: 0

House vote • 5/22/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 113 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 53 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/19/2025

Do Pass as Amended Insurance;

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0369

    8/15/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    8/15/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025Senate
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/20/2025Senate
  5. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse

    5/22/2025House
  6. Passed Both Houses

    5/22/2025Senate
  7. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-000

    5/22/2025House
  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/22/2025House
  9. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

    5/20/2025House
  10. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

    5/20/2025House
  11. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt

    5/20/2025House
  12. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  13. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  14. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    4/30/2025House
  15. Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee; 011-000-000

    4/29/2025House
  16. Assigned to Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee

    4/17/2025House
  17. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/7/2025House
  18. First Reading

    4/7/2025House
  19. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

    4/4/2025House
  20. Arrived in House

    4/4/2025House
  21. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

    4/3/2025Senate
  22. Third Reading - Passed; 053-000-000

    4/3/2025Senate
  23. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.

    4/2/2025Senate
  24. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 1, 2025

    3/20/2025Senate
  25. Second Reading

    3/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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