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Committee OKs bill to ensure non-opioid pain meds are fairly considered on prison formularies
Summary
Senate Bill 17-90, as amended and moved by the committee, would require the Department of Correction to consider FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications fairly when building correctional formularies; sponsors said the bill does not mandate specific drugs or interfere with clinical decision-making and it passed the Judiciary committee unanimously.
Senator Harshberger explained that Senate Bill 17-90 would direct correctional health formularies to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications so they are not disadvantaged compared with opioids, while preserving physician clinical judgment. "This bill does not mandate any specific medication. It does not restrict physicians from prescribing opioids when medically appropriate," the sponsor said.
Committee members had no further questions after the sponsor described the amendment (adopted in Commerce) and the chair called for a vote. The committee approved the amendment and the bill by roll call (nine ayes), advancing SB 17-90 to the Senate calendar. The sponsor emphasized the bill encourages balanced pain-management options that may reduce reliance on opioids in correctional settings.
