HB 2645 creates a tax credit for qualifying doctors practicing medicine in rural Oklahoma, directly affecting licensed physicians who meet specific residency and education criteria. The credit, capped at $20,000 per year per doctor, applies to taxable income from medical practice in designated rural areas (population under 25,000 and at least 25 miles from larger cities). The bill includes an annual $1 million total credit limit, with adjustments to prevent exceeding this cap. The bill was pocket-vetoed by the governor on June 15, 2025, and never became law.
HB 2262 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other care providers marketing specialized dementia care to publicly disclose detailed information about their services. Facilities must submit a standardized form to Oklahoma's State Department of Health, covering staff ratios, care plans, facility design, activities, fees, and family involvement - ensuring transparency for residents and families considering placement. The bill mandates posting this disclosure online and in facilities, with the Department reviewing it during inspections. It directly affects dementia care providers and supports informed decisions by families seeking appropriate care.
HB 1576 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to cover rapid whole genome sequencing (RWGS) for eligible beneficiaries under age 21 with complex or acute illnesses of unknown cause while receiving critical care in a hospital. It mandates coverage only when specific medical criteria are met, such as symptoms suggesting broad genetic testing needs, timely diagnosis being critical for treatment, and conditions like congenital anomalies or abnormal test results. The bill also ensures genetic data used for diagnosis is protected under HIPAA, allows research use only with explicit patient or guardian consent (with opt-out rights), and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement rules and seek federal approval for coverage. This policy directly affects Medicaid-covered children and teens in intensive care with undiagnosed conditions.
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.
HB 2048, the "340B Nondiscrimination Act," prohibits health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), and third-party payors from discriminating against healthcare providers participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It specifically bans lower reimbursement rates for 340B drugs, extra fees or administrative burdens for 340B entities, exclusion from provider networks based on 340B status, and requirements to disclose 340B-specific billing details. The law applies to all 340B entities - such as community health centers and hospitals participating in the federal program - and ensures they receive equal treatment in billing, reimbursement, and network access. Enforcement is handled by the Attorney General, with the Oklahoma Medicaid program excluded from these provisions.
This bill requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover low-dose mammography screenings for breast cancer without cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays). It mandates coverage once every five years for women aged 35-39 and annually for women 40 and older. The law also requires coverage for necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast exams, including those for high-risk cases like dense breast tissue. The policy takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1808, now law in Oklahoma, reforms health insurance prior authorization and step-therapy rules to improve patient access to medications. It requires insurers to grant exceptions to step-therapy protocols (where patients must try cheaper drugs first) if a medication is contraindicated, ineffective based on medical history, or causes harm - covering specific scenarios like prior adverse reactions or stability on a current treatment. The bill mandates insurers respond to urgent prior authorization requests within 24 hours and non-urgent requests within 2 business days, with requests deemed approved if deadlines are missed. It also ensures continuity of coverage for stable treatments when switching plans (90-day protection) and requires insurers to cover at least one readily available asthma controller medication per class without prior authorization.
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.
SB 1178 appropriates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2026 to support its existing mental health and substance abuse services duties. The bill directly affects state-funded mental health programs by providing dedicated funding for current operations. It includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take immediate effect without the governor's signature, which occurred on May 29, 2025. This is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely allocating existing resources. The appropriation is limited to the specified amount and purpose as defined in the bill text.
SB 109 requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover genetic testing for inherited cancer risks and evidence-based cancer imaging for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer or increased cancer risk. This coverage must be provided without patient cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays) when ordered by a healthcare provider following current medical guidelines, including those from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The law applies to all health benefit plans offered in Oklahoma starting November 1, 2025, ensuring these preventive services are accessible without financial barriers. It does not affect health savings account eligibility for non-preventive services but guarantees coverage for preventive care under federal guidelines.
