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Committee releases bill to ensure non‑opioid treatments aren’t denied in favor of opioids
Summary
The committee released Assembly bill 18 21, which would bar insurers from denying coverage for non‑opioid prescriptions in favor of opioid prescriptions; supporters cited overdose data and prevention benefits, while some witnesses warned the bill as drafted could mandate access to high‑cost drugs without clinical safeguards.
The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee voted to release Assembly bill 18 21 (A1821), a measure that would prohibit health insurers from denying coverage of non‑opioid prescription drugs in favor of opioid prescriptions.
Sponsor Assemblyman Anthony Ferrelli asked that his written remarks be read into the record, describing decades of experience with union members affected by opioid addiction and arguing the bill would "empower patients and doctors to make the best medical decisions possible." The sponsor’s statement highlighted opioid‑related prescribing prevalence in 2024 and the need to prevent new cases of addiction while the state uses settlement funds for prevention and treatment.
Supporters described the bill as a prevention tool. "Preventing exposure to opioids, particularly for acute pain, can be lifesaving," a Partnership for Drug‑Free New Jersey witness said, noting national overdose statistics and New Jersey overdose counts in recent years.
Some stakeholders urged caution about the bill’s current drafting. Alex Arnold (New Jersey Association of Health Plans) said the group supports efforts to expand access to effective pain management but opposed the bill as written because it could mandate equal coverage for all non‑opioid drugs "regardless of cost, clinical value, and or safety considerations," potentially limiting utilization‑management tools that protect patient safety and affordability. Marcus Caruso, who spoke in personal testimony about a family member’s overdose death, thanked sponsors for intent but said he could not support the bill as drafted and urged further work to avoid unintended paths.
BioNJ told the committee that advances in non‑opioid treatments are promising and that equalizing access could reduce overdose risk; industry witnesses urged the panel to consider indications, cost and the long timelines required to prove safety and effectiveness for new drugs.
After testimony and brief questioning, the committee took a roll‑call vote and released A1821 for further consideration; one member recorded an abstention. Committee members and witnesses signaled they would continue to work on the bill’s language to preserve clinical judgment and affordability while expanding access to non‑opioid options.
