Bill Text - SB708 (2020)

Relative to treatment alternatives to opioids.


Revision: Jan. 16, 2020, 9:06 a.m.

SB 708-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2837

01/10

 

SENATE BILL 708-FN

 

AN ACT relative to treatment alternatives to opioids.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. French, Dist 7; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. Lundgren, Rock. 5; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 7; Rep. Klein-Knight, Hills. 11

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the department of health and human services to create a voluntary nonopioid directive form which may be used for nonopioid treatment options for pain.  This bill also establishes insurance coverage for such treatment options.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2837

01/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to treatment alternatives to opioids.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Subdivision; Nonopioid Directives.  Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 80 the following new subdivision:

Nonopioid Directives

126-A:81  Definitions.  In this subdivision:

I.  "Health care facility" means a facility licensed under RSA 151.

II.  "Health care practitioner" or "practitioner" means a person who is lawfully entitled to prescribe, administer, dispense, or distribute controlled drugs.

126-A:82  Treatment of Chronic Pain.

I.  When patients seek treatment for any of the myriad conditions that cause pain, a health care practitioner may refer or prescribe to a patient any of the following treatment alternatives, when applicable, before starting a patient on an opioid; chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and/or osteopathic manipulation.

II.  The health care practitioner shall honor the nonopioid directive first, by administering less addictive, nonopioid medications or nonpharmacological modalities as a first line of treatment, whenever possible.

126-A:83  Nonopioid Directive Form.

I.  The commissioner, in consultation with the appropriate licensing boards, shall develop and publish a uniform voluntary nonopioid directive form which may be used by a patient to deny or refuse the administration or prescribing of a controlled substance containing an opioid by a practitioner.  The voluntary nonopioid directive form shall indicate to all prescribing practitioners and health care facilities that the named patient shall not be offered, prescribed, supplied with, or otherwise administered a controlled substance containing an opioid.  The voluntary nonopioid directive form shall be posted in a downloadable format on the department of health and human services' Internet website.

II.(a)  A patient may execute and file a voluntary nonopioid directive form with a health care practitioner or other authority authorized by the department to accept the voluntary nonopioid directive form for filing.  Each health care practitioner or other person authorized by the department to accept a voluntary nonopioid directive form for filing shall date and affix his or her signature to the form in the presence of the patient as evidence of acceptance and shall provide a signed copy of the form to the patient.

(b)  The patient executing and filing a voluntary nonopioid directive form with a health care practitioner shall sign and date the form in the presence of the practitioner, a designee of the health care practitioner or other person authorized by the department to accept a voluntary nonopioid directive form for filing.  In the case of a patient who is unable to execute and file a voluntary nonopioid form, the patient may designate a duly authorized guardian or health care proxy to execute and file the form in accordance with this subdivision.

(c)  A patient may revoke the voluntary nonopioid directive form for any reason and by written or oral means.

III.  Notwithstanding paragraphs I and II, before signing a voluntary nonopioid directive form a health care practitioner may, if deemed appropriate, assess the patient's personal and family history of alcohol or drug abuse and evaluate the patient's risk for medication misuse or abuse.  In evaluating such risks, the practitioner shall access the controlled drug prescription health and safety program established under RSA 318-B:32, to determine whether an unusual or suspect pattern for the prescribing of controlled substances containing opioids to the patient has been reported to the program.  If a health care practitioner reasonably believes that a patient is at risk for substance misuse or abuse or a practitioner believes in the health care practitioner's expert medical opinion that for any other reason the nonopioid directive is appropriate, the health care practitioner shall sign the form.  The health care practitioner signing the nonopioid directive form shall note doing so in the patient's medical record.

126-A:84  Rulemaking.  The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:

I.  A standard form for the recording and transmission of the voluntary nonopioid directive form, which shall include verification by the patient's practitioner and which shall comply with the appropriate confidentiality requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as amended, and shall include, the basic procedures necessary to revoke the voluntary nonopioid directive form.

II.  Procedures to record the voluntary nonopioid directive form in the patient's medical record or, if available, the patient's interoperable electronic medical record in the system.

III.  Requirements and procedures for a patient to appoint a duly authorized guardian or health care proxy to override a previously filed voluntary nonopioid directive form and circumstances under which an attending practitioner may override a previously filed voluntary nonopioid directive form based on documented medical judgment which shall be recorded in the patient's medical record.

IV.  Procedures to ensure that any recording, sharing, or distributing of data relative to the voluntary nonopioid directive form complies with all federal and state confidentiality laws.

V.  Procedures for yearly continuing education for health care practitioners which shall include proof that they have completed no less than 4 hours of continuing education relating to effective alternatives to the use of opioids which focus on the use of nonpharmacological modalities for pain management, specifically chiropractic, acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation, and massage.

126-A:85  Protections.

I.  A written prescription which is presented at an outpatient pharmacy or a prescription that is electronically transmitted to an outpatient pharmacy shall be presumed to be valid for the purposes of this subdivision, and a pharmacist in an outpatient setting shall not be held in violation of this subdivision for dispensing a controlled substance containing an opioid or other controlled substance in contradiction to a voluntary nonopioid directive form, except upon evidence that the pharmacist acted knowingly against the voluntary nonopioid directive form.

II.  No health care practitioner or employee of a health care practitioner acting in good faith shall be subject to criminal or civil liability or be considered to have engaged in unprofessional conduct for failing to offer or administer a prescription or medication order for a controlled substance containing an opioid under the voluntary nonopioid directive form.

III.  No person acting as a representative or an agent under a health care proxy shall be subject to criminal or civil liability for making a decision under RSA 126-A:82 in good faith.

2  New Section; Coverage for Nonopioid Treatment for Pain; Individual.  Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 6-x the following new section:

415:6-y  Coverage for Nonopioid Treatment for Pain; Individual.  Each insurer that issues or renews any individual policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses shall provide to persons covered by such insurance who are residents of this state coverage for the costs of options to patients for evidenced-based nonopioid treatment for pain, including but not limited to, chiropractic care, osteopathic manipulative treatment and acupuncture treatment.  Policies issued pursuant to this section shall not have annual or lifetime numerical limits on visits for the treatment of pain.  Reimbursement, coinsurance, copayment, and deductible amounts for pain management care utilizing chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or osteopathic manipulation shall be determined as a service under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, as amended, definition of rehabilitation and habilitation.

3  New Section; Coverage for Nonopioid Treatment for Pain; Group.  Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 18-bb the following new section:

415:18-cc  Coverage for Nonopioid Treatment for Pain.  Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses shall provide to each group, or to the portion of each group comprised of certificate holders of such insurance who are residents of this state, coverage for the costs of options to patients for evidenced-based nonopioid treatment for pain, including but not limited to, chiropractic care, osteopathic manipulative treatment and acupuncture treatment.  Policies issued pursuant to this section shall not have annual or lifetime numerical limits on visits for the treatment of pain.  Reimbursement, coinsurance, copayment, and deductible amounts for pain management care utilizing chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or osteopathic manipulation shall be determined as a service under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, as amended, definition of rehabilitation and habilitation.  

4  Health Services Corporations; Applicable Statutes.  Amend RSA 420-A:2 to read as follows:

420-A:2  Applicable Statutes.  Every health service corporation shall be governed by this chapter and the relevant provisions of RSA 161-H, and shall be exempt from this title except for the provisions of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 415:6, II(4), RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-k, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-t, RSA 415:6-u, RSA 415:6-v, RSA 415:6-w, RSA 415:6-x, RSA 415:6-y, RSA 415:18, V, RSA 415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA 415:18-a, RSA 415:18-i, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-o, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA 415:18-y, RSA 415:18-z, RSA 415:18-aa, RSA 415:18-bb, RSA 415:18-cc, RSA 415:22, RSA 417, RSA 417-E, RSA 420-J, and all applicable provisions of title XXXVII wherein such corporations are specifically included.  Every health service corporation and its agents shall be subject to the fees prescribed for health service corporations under RSA 400-A:29, VII.

5  Health Services Corporations; Applicable Statutes; Effective January 2021.  Amend RSA 420-A:2 to read as follows:

420-A:2  Applicable Statutes.  Every health service corporation shall be governed by this chapter and the relevant provisions of RSA 161-H, and shall be exempt from this title except for the provisions of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 415:6, II(4), RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-k, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-u, RSA 415:6-v, RSA 415:6-w, RSA 415:6-x, RSA 415:6-y, RSA 415:18, V, RSA 415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA 415:18-a, RSA 415:18-i, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-o, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA 415:18-z, RSA 415:18-aa, RSA 415:18-bb, RSA 415:18-cc, RSA 415:22, RSA 417, RSA 417-E, RSA 420-J, and all applicable provisions of title XXXVII wherein such corporations are specifically included.  Every health service corporation and its agents shall be subject to the fees prescribed for health service corporations under RSA 400-A:29, VII.  

6  Health Maintenance Organizations; Statutory Construction.  Amend RSA 420-B:20, III to read as follows:

III.  The requirements of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-t, RSA 415:6-u, RSA 415:6-v, RSA 415:6-w, RSA 415:6-x, RSA 415:6-y, RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA 415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18-i, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA 415:18-y, RSA 415:18-z, RSA 415:18-aa, RSA 415:18-bb, RSA 415:18-cc, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 420-G, and RSA 420-J shall apply to health maintenance organizations.

7  Health Maintenance Organizations; Statutory Construction; Effective January 1, 2021.  Amend RSA 420-B:20, III to read as follows:

III.  The requirements of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-u, RSA 415:6-v, RSA 415:6-w, RSA 415:6-x, RSA 415:6-y, RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA 415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18-i, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA 415:18-z, RSA 415:18-aa, RSA 415:18-bb, RSA 415:18-cc, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 420-G, and RSA 420-J shall apply to health maintenance organizations.  

8  Effective Date.

I.  Sections 5 and 7 shall take effect January 1, 2021 at 12:03 p.m.

II.  The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

20-2837

1/7/20

 

SB 708-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to treatment alternatives to opioids.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Federal matching Medicaid funds.

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with appropriate licensing boards, to develop a uniform voluntary non-opioid directive form which may be used by a patient to deny or refuse the administration or prescribing of a controlled substance containing an opioid by a practitioner.  The bill also amends provisions in the insurance statutes to require that insurers provide coverage for evidence-based nonopioid treatment of pain, including chiropractic treatment, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and acupuncture treatment.  The Department assumes that it will need to develop and implement a new Medicaid service to comply with this requirement, as the state's Medicaid program does not currently cover chiropractic or acupuncture treatment.  The Department is unable to estimate the cost of establishing such a benefit, or the staffing resources necessary to implement it.

 

The Insurance Department states that to the extent the bill's requirements are considered new mandates under federal law, the cost for such mandated coverage for policies purchased through the federally-facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace will need to be borne by the State.  The Department also states that the bill's impact on insurance claims cost is unclear, but that it may have the effect of increasing premium rates and/or plan designs, in which case the State will receive an indeterminable increase in insurance premium tax revenue.

 

The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification states that it is unable to quantify the bill's impact.

 

It is assumed any fiscal impact from this bill will not occur until FY 2021.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services, Insurance Department, and Office of Professional Licensure and Certification