Legislative Activity

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" amends Medicare Part D to improve access to non-opioid pain management drugs by waiving deductibles and ensuring they are placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The Act also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, further easing access for patients. These changes aim to provide more accessible alternatives for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.

The "Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and regularly update a plan for the rapid development, validation, production, and distribution of diagnostic tests in response to public health emergencies. This plan aims to improve coordination between public and private entities, consider new technologies, address medical supply needs, and ensure efficient test distribution. The Secretary is authorized to contract with public and private entities to enhance domestic diagnostic testing capacity and must release the plan within one year, updating it every three years thereafter.

The "Medicaid Program Improvement Act" requires states to verify Medicaid enrollees' address information regularly through reliable data sources starting January 1, 2026. It also mandates that managed care entities share address information received from or verified with enrollees to the state. This aims to improve the reliability of address information within the Medicaid program.