Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H1/28/25 H2/12/25 S3/5/25
2 95th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1186
4
5 By: Representative Vaught
6 By: Senator C. Penzo
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO CREATE THE PAIN RELIEF PARITY ACT; TO
10 REQUIRE PAIN RELIEF PARITY IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID
11 PROGRAM; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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14 Subtitle
15 TO CREATE THE PAIN RELIEF PARITY ACT;
16 AND TO REQUIRE PAIN RELIEF PARITY IN THE
17 ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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21 SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. TITLE.
22 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Pain Relief Parity
23 Act".
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25 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 77, Subchapter 4, is
26 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:
27 20-77-408. Medicaid pain relief parity.
28 In establishing and maintaining the formulary and preferred drug list
29 for the Arkansas Medicaid Program, the Department of Human Services shall
30 ensure that a non-opioid drug approved by the United States Food and Drug
31 Administration with no therapeutic equivalent for the treatment or management
32 of pain shall not be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage
33 relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of
34 pain on the formulary and preferred drug list, including without limitation:
35 (1) Designating any non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if
36 any opioid or narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug; or
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As Engrossed: H1/28/25 H2/12/25 S3/5/25 HB1186
1 (2) Establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization
2 controls, including without limitation more restrictive or more extensive
3 prior authorization or step therapy requirements, for a non-opioid drug than
4 applicable to any opioid or narcotic drug.
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6 /s/Vaught
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2 03-05-2025 10:13:47 JMB175Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.