(1) In establishing and maintaining the formulary and preferred drug list for the Arkansas Medicaid Program, the Department of Human Services shall ensure that a non-opioid drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration with no therapeutic equivalent 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 on the formulary and preferred drug list, including without limitation:(1) Designating any non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if any opioid or narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug; or(2) Establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization controls, including without limitation more restrictive or more extensive prior authorization or step therapy requirements, for a non-opioid drug than applicable to any opioid or narcotic drug.
(1) Designating any non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if any opioid or narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug; or
(2) Establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization controls, including without limitation more restrictive or more extensive prior authorization or step therapy requirements, for a non-opioid drug than applicable to any opioid or narcotic drug.