Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1019: Health insurance; requiring certain coverage. Effective date.

SB 1019 requires Oklahoma health insurers to cover continuous anesthesia services without arbitrary time limits during medical procedures. It defines "anesthesia time" as the period from patient preparation through service discontinuation and mandates that insurers cannot restrict coverage or payment based on time duration. The law directly affects insurers and anesthesia providers by eliminating policies that previously limited coverage for procedures requiring extended anesthesia care. Effective November 1, 2025, this bill codifies these requirements into Oklahoma Statutes (Title 36, Section 7500).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves arbitrary time limits on anesthesia coverage, ensuring continuous care without insurer restrictions, expanding patient access to necessary services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 2049: Medicaid parity; coverage; mental health and substance use disorders; contract compliance; noncompliance reviews; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; complaints; publication of reports; effective date.

HB 2049 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid managed care plans to comply with federal parity laws for mental health and substance use disorder coverage. It mandates regular compliance checks on nonquantitative treatment limitations (like prior authorization), creates a standardized process for handling parity complaints, and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to publicly report on compliance. The law directly affects Medicaid managed care plans, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking mental health or substance use services. Key provisions include contract requirements for parity analysis, public disclosure of compliance reports, and a 30-day deadline for publishing federal reports. The bill became effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid plans to comply with federal parity laws for mental health/substance use coverage, strengthening patient access and rights under Medicaid.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 2295: Hospital license; prohibiting transfer of hospital licenses from one address to another; administrative requirements; mediation; effective date.

HB 2295 prohibits public trust hospitals in Oklahoma communities with fewer than 30,000 residents (per federal census) from transferring their licenses to locations more than 15 miles away. If a hospital plans to close, the bill mandates a mediation process: the hospital and municipality each appoint a mediator, who then select a third mediator to set a sale price for the facility if agreement isn’t reached. Hospital trustees must complete an approved education program within 90 days of appointment and certify they have no financial ties to potential buyers. The bill also requires CMS provider numbers to revert to the hospital immediately upon termination of third-party leases. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents hospital relocations from small communities, maintaining healthcare access in rural areas with <30k residents and requiring mediation for closures to preserve service availability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 2746: Revenue and Taxation; Remote Quality Jobs Incentive Act; eligibility requirements for basic health benefits plans; effective date.

HB 2746 amends Oklahoma's Remote Quality Jobs Incentive Act to require proxy establishments (entities that attract remote workers to the state) to verify that included remote workers have basic health insurance meeting specific coverage standards. The insurance must cover hospital care, physician services, mental health, substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs, and prenatal care, with employees paying no more than 50% of the premium. The bill also clarifies key terms like "remote worker" (an employee working outside Oklahoma who hasn't lived there in the past year) and "new direct job" (a job created by an establishment other than the proxy that didn't exist before application approval). The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and became effective without the Governor's signature on May 8, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive health insurance coverage including mental health and substance abuse, with affordability requirements (≤50% employee premium share)90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates comprehensive health insurance coverage with employee cost cap, strengthening worker benefits under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 7, 2025

HB 2050: Professions and occupations; foreign applicants and requirements; international medical school graduates; foreign licensure body; limited licensure; parameters; employment; training programs; supervision; full licensure; unprofessional conduct; professional competence; good moral character; effective date.

HB 2050 creates a new temporary licensure pathway for international medical graduates in Oklahoma who cannot immediately qualify for full licensure. It allows these applicants to obtain a limited license if they meet ECFMG standards, provide evidence of three years of post-graduate training or clinical practice abroad, secure employment at an accredited health care provider, and pass an English competency exam. During the limited license period (up to three years), they must practice only under supervision at an approved training program. After three years with no disciplinary issues and passing all USMLE exams, they may qualify for full licensure without the prior practice restrictions. This directly affects foreign-trained physicians seeking to practice in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates temporary licensure pathway for international medical graduates to practice under supervision, expanding healthcare workforce access and addressing provider shortages per bill's purpose.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationCreates temporary licensure pathway for international medical graduates, enabling healthcare employment under supervision, supporting immigrant professional integration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2025

HB 1816: Medicaid; out-of-state medical providers; term; effective date.

HB 1816 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to prioritize in-state medical providers for in-person care when local options are available, rather than contracting with out-of-state providers. It specifically applies to services requiring the patient's physical presence and direct provider care (excluding remote services like lab work). The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must seek federal approval to implement this change. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrioritizes in-state Medicaid providers for local care access, improving patient convenience and supporting local healthcare infrastructure without restricting coverage.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 438: Health insurance; methods of payments to providers; requiring notice of certain fee. Effective date.

SB 438 prevents health insurance companies and health plans in Oklahoma from requiring providers (like doctors, hospitals, or clinics) to accept only credit card payments for services. It mandates that insurers must notify providers about any fees tied to payment methods and provide clear instructions for choosing alternatives like electronic transfers. The bill also prohibits charging fees for standard electronic payments (ACH) without provider consent and voids any contract clauses that try to bypass these rules. These changes directly affect health insurers, health plans, and healthcare providers across Oklahoma, taking effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from forcing credit card-only payments and banning fees for standard electronic transfers, protecting providers' financial access to fair payment methods and improving healthcare service continuity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1201: Revenue and taxation; credit; pregnancy resource centers; effective date.

HB 1201 creates a 70% tax credit for Oklahoma taxpayers who donate to certified pregnancy resource centers, capping the credit at $50,000 per donor annually. To qualify, centers must provide free, non-abortion services (like prenatal care and counseling) without performing or referring for abortions, and must be certified by the state health director. The total annual tax credits for all donors are capped at $5 million, with annual adjustments to prevent exceeding this limit. The credit applies to donations of $100 or more and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 70% tax credit for donations to pregnancy centers, reducing taxpayer liability while capping total annual credits at $5M, aligning with tax relief and fiscal responsibility.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit for donations to centers providing prenatal care and counseling (non-abortion healthcare services), directing funds toward specific health services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1380: Oklahoma Health Care Authority; Insulin Access and Affordability Program; effective date; emergency.

HB 1380 creates Oklahoma's Insulin Access and Affordability Program within the State Department of Health to lower insulin costs and improve access. The program requires the state to partner with nonprofit pharmaceutical companies and organizations to secure fast-acting insulin at capped prices: $30 per vial or $55 per pack of five pre-filled pens, with agreements detailing projected savings for Oklahoma residents and self-insured plans. It directly affects Oklahomans using insulin, particularly those on public or private insurance, by aiming to reduce out-of-pocket costs through competitive pricing. The program takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires nonprofits to commit to specific price points and savings reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Oklahoma's Insulin Access Program capping costs at $30/vial, directly improving patient access to essential medication and lowering costs for residents.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 2754: Public health; State Department of Health; Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program Act of 2025; Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program; Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program Revolving Fund; effective date; emergency.

HB 2754 establishes the Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program to provide financial support to qualifying rural hospitals. It directly affects publicly owned hospitals in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents that meet federal critical access hospital standards. The program creates a revolving fund in the state treasury, administered by the State Department of Health, to award grants prioritizing areas with significant healthcare access barriers due to distance. Grants are limited to the total funds available in the revolving fund, and the program becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state revolving fund to provide grants for rural hospitals, directly allocating state budget resources to fund essential healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state funding program for rural hospitals to improve access in underserved areas, directly advancing healthcare support through financial assistance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track