If passed, the bill would require individual and group health insurance plans in the state to cover medical cannabis starting in 2026 for conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain.
Insurers would also be required to reimburse members for medical cannabis costs, either through direct payments to dispensaries or reimbursement to members directly.
Separately, an ongoing lawsuit in New Mexico against BCBS of New Mexico, Presbyterian Health Plan and Centene alleges the insurers are violating state law by failing to cover cannabis as a medically necessary treatment for behavioral conditions. The case is currently under review in federal court.
