Medicaid; requiring the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to provide certain reimbursement to hospitals under specified conditions. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 203 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to reimburse hospitals 100% of the statewide average nursing facility per diem rate for Medicaid patients who no longer need acute hospital care but require nursing facility-level care upon discharge. This applies specifically when patients cannot be transferred to a nursing facility due to bed shortages or because a court-appointed guardian is pending. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must seek federal approval to implement this reimbursement, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects Medicaid-enrolled patients needing nursing care transitions and the hospitals treating them.