S. 2911Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Enhancing Patient Access to Non-Opioid Treatment Options

Introduced May 22, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:58 PM UTC

The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on Medicaid coverage for non‑opioid pain treatment and management. The guidance must be released by January 1, 2019 and would apply to items and services that states can include in their Medicaid plans or waivers. It aims to expand patient access to evidence‑based non‑opioid therapies, both drug‑based and non‑drug‑based.

Key Provisions

  • By Jan 1 2019, HHS must publish one or more final guidance documents (or update existing ones) for states about Medicaid coverage of non‑opioid pain treatments.
  • The guidance covers both mandatory and optional Medicaid items and services that can be included in a state plan under title XIX or in a waiver.
  • It includes evidence‑based non‑opioid pharmacological therapies and non‑pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or other approved treatments.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

May 22, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 22, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

May 22, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 22, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2911

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2018

Mr. Heller (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Thune, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Nelson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to States regarding Medicaid items and services for non-opioid pain treatment and management.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Patient Access to Non-Opioid Treatment Options.

2.

Guidance to States regarding Medicaid items and services for non-opioid pain treatment and management

Not later than January 1, 2019, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall issue 1 or more final guidance documents, or update existing guidance documents, to States regarding mandatory and optional items and services that may be provided under a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or under a waiver of such a plan, for non-opioid treatment and management of pain, including, but not limited to, evidence-based non-opioid pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacological therapies.