SB 202 modifies eligibility rules for self-funded health plans to participate in Oklahoma's Medicaid premium assistance program. It allows small businesses and public entities using self-funded health plans to qualify if the plan was already used by an employer in the program as of May 1, 2024, or if it’s owned by a local government public trust. This change specifically affects small employers (under 250 employees) and public-sector health plans seeking to access state premium assistance. The bill aims to expand coverage options for low-income workers by making more health plan types eligible for state-funded premium support.
HB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma public schools to provide annual, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse and addiction prevention, local resource access, and health education about fentanyl use. Schools must incorporate this content into health classes, and the State Department of Education will develop curriculum standards and resources to support implementation. The law also designates a week for "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" to align with National Red Ribbon Week, with age-appropriate instruction determined by each school district.
SB 1039 modifies Oklahoma's medical marijuana licensing system. It establishes a new Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to process applications, sets a $100 biannual fee (or $20 for Medicaid/Medicare/SoonerCare users) for patient licenses, and creates three license types: standard two-year licenses, 60-day short-term licenses for patients with limited physician recommendations, and 30-day temporary licenses for out-of-state patients from regulated states. The bill requires the Authority to review applications within 14 business days and provide written denial reasons, while also creating caregiver licenses for homebound patients with specific limits. This law directly affects Oklahoma residents seeking medical marijuana access, out-of-state visitors with valid programs, and caregivers.
HB 2513, titled the "Oklahoma Mental Health Reform Act of 2025," proposed creating a position requiring an individual with specific qualifications to address the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' court-ordered consent decree. The bill specified requirements for this appointee and included an emergency provision. It was scheduled to take effect November 1, 2025, but was pocket-vetoed by the Governor on May 30, 2025, with the veto taking effect June 15, 2025, meaning it never became law. The bill directly affected the Department's compliance with its existing legal agreement but was not enacted.
HB 1224 allows certain minors to consent to specific health services without parental approval, including treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, or sexual assault. Parents generally retain access to their minor child's medical records, but this right is limited when the minor uses the bill's self-consent provisions for the listed health conditions. Health professionals must make a reasonable attempt to notify parents for emergency care but are not required to inform them for most other services covered under the bill. The bill also protects health providers from liability when acting in good faith under these rules, ensuring minors' confidentiality in sensitive health matters.
Oklahoma's SB 773 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by prohibiting unfair practices that affect independent pharmacies and patients. It requires PBMs to pay independent pharmacies the same reimbursement rate for identical drugs as they pay PBM-owned pharmacies, banning "spread pricing" where PBMs charge plans more than they pay pharmacies. The bill also prohibits PBMs from charging pharmacies fees for claim submission, network enrollment, or claims processing, and restricts retroactive payment reductions except for fraud or audit errors. These changes directly impact PBMs, pharmacies, and health plans operating in Oklahoma, aiming to ensure fairer payment practices. The bill was vetoed by the governor but overridden by the legislature on May 29, 2025.
SB 1135 allocates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support its operations. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval. This legislation provides specific funding for the Authority's duties without altering existing health insurance or tax policies.
HB 2797 prohibits Oklahoma's Health Care Authority (OHCA) from using statistical methods like extrapolation to audit Medicaid home and community-based service claims, which could require providers to repay overpayments. It invalidates all past audits using these methods (January 2020-November 2025) and voids related repayment demands. The bill requires OHCA and the Department of Human Services to jointly develop new audit standards and provide training for providers by November 2027. It also mandates compliance with existing fraud reporting rules and updates audit responsibilities for Medicaid waiver programs.
HB 2777 allocates $20 million from Oklahoma's Opioid Lawsuit Settlement Fund to the state's Opioid Abatement Revolving Fund for opioid-related programs, and $1.25 million to local governments that did not sue opioid manufacturers. The bill directs these funds to be used for opioid abatement efforts, such as treatment and prevention services, without requiring new taxes. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was signed into law on May 29, 2025. The legislation uses existing settlement funds rather than creating new spending.
SB 789, now effective as of May 28, 2025, restricts how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) can audit pharmacies. It requires PBMs to give pharmacies 14 days' notice (30 days for wholesale audits), prohibits recouping funds for simple errors like typos, and allows pharmacies to use hospital/physician records or any drug purchase records (without date/source limits) to validate claims. The law also caps audits at 50 prescriptions per pharmacy annually and mandates that any recouped funds first be refunded to the patient. This directly affects pharmacies, PBMs, and patients by standardizing audit practices and protecting against unfair financial penalties.