ATLANTA – A panel of Georgia lawmakers is considering introducing legislation next year forcing insurance companies to cover the cost of alternatives to opioid pain medications as a way to further address problems with the addictive medications.
State Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, said she and other members of a special House opioid study committee expect to make alternative medications more affordable byrequiring insurance companies to cover nonopioid pain management options the same way they do for opioids.
There is legislative precedent for such a requirement. Au pointed to a 2022 mental health measure that requires insurance companies to cover mental health the same as they do for physical health…