Massachusetts H4934: An Act to improve access and care coordination for people with pain

What the bill says

From the introduced text, January 22, 2026:

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10Z the following new section:- Section 10AA. Coverage for non-opioid pain medications. (a) As used in this section, the following word shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning: “Non-opioid drug” means a non-opioid drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain. (b) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage such that no non-opioid drug shall be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain, where impermissible disadvantaging or discouragement includes, without limitation: (1) designating any such non-opioid drug as a non-preferred drug if any opioid or narcotic drug is designated as a preferred drug on the MassHealth Drug List; or (2) establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization management procedures, including, but not limited to, more restrictive or more extensive prior authorization or step therapy protocols, for such non-opioid drug than the least restrictive or extensive utilization management procedures applicable to any such opioid or narcotic drug. SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I) · primary sponsor
• Andres Vargas (D)
• Estela Reyes (D)
• Marjorie Decker (D, 25th Middlesex)

Latest actions

1. July 9, 2026: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
2. January 22, 2026: Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
3. January 22, 2026: New draft of H1134
4. January 22, 2026: Reported from the committee on Financial Services

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (December 16, 2025): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H4934?

H4934 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act to improve access and care coordination for people with pain.

What is the status of H4934?

In committee as of July 9, 2026. Latest action: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (July 9, 2026).

Who sponsored H4934?

Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H4934?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4934