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

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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

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2025

HB 1585: Pharmacy technicians; training guidelines; training skills; on-the-job training; effective date.

HB 1585 establishes mandatory training requirements for pharmacy technicians in Oklahoma. It requires pharmacy technicians to complete two phases of training: Phase I before receiving a permit, and Phase II within 90 days of permit issuance. Pharmacy managers must develop, document, and verify all training, with failure to complete Phase II voiding the permit. The law directly affects pharmacy technicians seeking permits, their employers (pharmacy managers), and the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board, which oversees compliance. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates training for pharmacy technicians to ensure competency, improving patient safety and care quality in healthcare services.95% 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

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 595: Jail standards; creating the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act. Emergency.

SB 595 creates the Oklahoma Jail Standards Act, requiring all city and county jails to meet new safety, health, and operational standards. It mandates annual inspections by the State Department of Health, sets specific requirements for inmate food, sanitation, medical care, staff training (4-8 hours yearly for direct-contact staff), and inmate classification, and requires facilities to develop written policies for emergencies and medical services. The bill directly affects all county jails, sheriff's departments, and facility administrators, while allowing temporary tent jails to operate under different rules. The Act also clarifies that medical care must cover illnesses or injuries from arrest through incarceration, and includes exceptions for short-term holding facilities under 12 hours.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates improved jail standards including medical care, sanitation, staff training, and inspections, directly advancing corrections reform and inmate safety standards.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical care standards for inmates in jails, strengthening healthcare provision within correctional facilities as part of operational requirements.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 23, 2025

SB 808: Practice of physical therapy; clarifying certain exemption from referral. Effective date.

SB 808 clarifies Oklahoma's physical therapy referral rules, allowing licensed physical therapists (and assistants under supervision) to evaluate and treat patients without a doctor's referral for up to 30 days, except for workers' compensation cases. It specifically exempts children receiving physical therapy under federal special education laws (IDEA/504), screening/education services, and non-injury-related fitness/wellness programs. The bill explicitly states physical therapists cannot practice "healing arts" beyond their scope and maintains existing restrictions on non-therapeutic services. Signed into law on April 23, 2025, it takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts IDEA/504 special education services, facilitating physical therapy access for students without referral barriers.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves referral barrier for physical therapy access, improving patient access to care without expanding coverage or funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1853: Health care services; terms; documentation; prohibiting certain billing; deductible; codification; effective date.

HB 1853 requires health insurance plans covering children to provide full, cost-sharing-free coverage for all recommended childhood immunizations (including those mandated by the State Board of Health) from birth through age 18. It also allows policyholders to pay for health care services directly at a negotiated lower rate and submit documentation to have that payment count toward their deductible. The law applies to most health insurance plans (excluding dental, vision, short-term coverage, and others listed in the bill) and takes effect November 1, 2025. This ensures children's routine vaccines are fully covered without out-of-pocket costs for families.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires full cost-sharing-free coverage for childhood immunizations and allows direct payment at negotiated rates to reduce out-of-pocket costs, expanding access and protecting patient rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 2801: Antipsychotic drugs; vendor drug program; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; prior authorized; disorders; prior authorization; effective date.

This bill requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to approve prior authorization for atypical antipsychotic drugs not on the preferred drug list when treating mood disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or related conditions. It mandates approval if a patient has failed a trial of a preferred drug in the past year or is stable on a non-preferred medication. The policy ensures these drugs are covered at parity with other branded medications in the same class, without additional restrictions beyond standard Medicaid criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for non-preferred antipsychotics in mental health treatment, improving patient access and ensuring parity without additional restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1832: Intermediate care facilities; electronic monitoring; long-term care facilities; term; intermediate care facilities; effective date.

HB 1832 clarifies rules for electronic monitoring in Oklahoma's long-term care facilities, directly affecting residents of nursing homes, assisted living centers, intermediate care facilities, and continuum of care facilities. The bill requires facilities to obtain written consent from residents or their representatives before monitoring resident rooms and prohibits refusing admission or removal based on monitoring. It also mandates facilities to post notices about monitoring and allows residents to install their own monitoring devices with roommate consent. The law prohibits unauthorized monitoring, tampering with devices, and sharing recordings without consent, ensuring privacy protections for residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires resident consent for monitoring, prohibits admission refusal based on monitoring, and protects rights in long-term care facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 2805: Dental benefit plans; creating the Medical Loss Ratios for Dental (DLR) Health Care Services Plans Act; definitions; formula; reporting to Insurance Department; data verification; rebate calculation; rates; effective date.

HB 2805 establishes minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements for dental benefit plans in Oklahoma, requiring insurers to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on actual dental care (not overhead) for large group plans and 80% for individual/small group plans. If insurers fail to meet these ratios, they must issue annual rebates to enrollees calculated as the shortfall multiplied by total premium revenue (excluding certain fees). The bill also mandates annual MLR reporting to the Oklahoma Insurance Department by calendar year, with public data disclosure, and requires insurers to file dental rate changes by July 1 for January 1 effective dates. It does not apply to Medicaid plans and takes effect January 1, 2028, for rebate implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnforces 80-85% MLR for dental plans, requiring insurers to spend premiums on care (not overhead) and issue rebates for shortfalls, directly protecting enrollee rights and improving coverage access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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