Louisiana | NonOpioidChoices

State Facts

1,130

Deaths, or 46% of total overdose deaths involved opioids in 2023.¹

1.2 Million

Claims, or 4.57% of all Medicare Part D claims were for opioids in 2022 – an average of 63 per prescriber.²

62.7

Opioid Prescriptions were written for every 100 persons in Louisiana in 2023.³

$487.7 Million

Estimated excess cost to Louisiana Medicaid for Opioid Use Disorder in 2022.⁴

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Opioid Settlement Funds

$577,004,011.82

State Spending Recommendation

National approved use: providing support for non-opioid pain treatment alternatives, including training providers to offer or refer to multi-modal, evidence-informed treatment of pain.

Member & Endorser Footprint

Voices is backed by a broad coalition of organizations across the state united by a shared goal: ensuring patients have access to safe, effective,  and individualized pain management throughout the continuum of care.

Co-Sponsors (119th)

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)

2024 Passed Relevant Legislation

SB 224

This bill prohibits Louisiana’s Medicaid program and managed care organizations from favoring opioids over non-opioid pain medications through restrictive policies, while also requiring the state to promote education and grant support for non-opioid pain management.

Effective date

08/24/2024

Learn More

1. Louisiana Department of Health (2024). Louisiana Opioid Data and Surveillance System. https://lodss.ldh.la.gov/

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Medicare Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool. https://cms-oeda.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=5390718d875d4c049b1ac5976a9ff083

3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/opioid-dispensing-rate-maps.html

4. Health Management Associates (2025). Opioid Use Disorder in the Medicaid Fee-For-Service Program Economic Analysis. Opioid-Use-Disorder-Economic-Impact-on-Medicaid-Program-073125.pdf