Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2784: Public health; Oklahoma State University Medical Authority; Medicaid supplemental payments; agreements and contract; benefits; waivers; creating the Emergency Medicine Revolving Fund; effective date.

HB 2784 creates the Emergency Medicine Revolving Fund to preserve Medicaid supplemental payments for specific hospitals. It directly affects Oklahoma hospitals with American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma centers, particularly those owned, operated, or partnered with the Oklahoma State University Medical Trust or University Hospitals Trust (including facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa). The bill requires annual certification by the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority to ensure trauma centers meet standards for receiving these payments, while also clarifying agreements between medical authorities and healthcare providers. Key provisions include maintaining existing Medicaid funding streams for teaching hospitals, trauma centers, and affiliated medical school providers, and directing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to develop plans to sustain these payments through federal waivers or state plan amendments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePreserves Medicaid supplemental payments for trauma hospitals, maintaining critical funding for emergency healthcare services and preventing defunding of public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Public Health

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

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Mental Health

signed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 1512: Insurance; Insurance Commissioner authority related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; creating the State-based Exchange Revolving Fund; purpose; effective date; emergency.

HB 1512 grants Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner authority to operate a state-based health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, including applying for federal waivers. It creates a dedicated "State-based Exchange Revolving Fund" to support the exchange's operations and requires the Commissioner to promulgate necessary rules. The bill directly affects Oklahomans purchasing health insurance through the state marketplace by enabling a state-run exchange option. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 15, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-based exchange fund under ACA, expanding health insurance marketplace access for Oklahomans per bill's purpose95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 693: Social media; requiring certain warning on social media platforms. Effective date.

SB 693 requires social media platforms to display a clear warning about potential mental health risks for minors when users under 18 access the platform. This warning must be provided in a specific, conspicuous manner as defined by the bill, and failure to do so would be deemed an unlawful business practice under Oklahoma's Consumer Protection Act. Violations would result in civil penalties, which would be deposited into a new "Social Media Mitigation for Minor Mental Health Fund" managed by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The fund aims to support mental health services for minors in Oklahoma, directly affecting social media companies operating within the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a fund to mitigate minor mental health risks from social media, directly supporting mental health services through mandated platform warnings and dedicated funding.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates social media platforms for consumer protection (minor mental health), aligning with tech regulation indicators under consumer safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Media

Track

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2196: Education; Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act; school employee dependents; effective date; emergency.

HB 2196 establishes a flexible benefit allowance for Oklahoma school district employees to cover health insurance and other benefits for themselves and their dependents. The state must appropriate annual funds to cover the allowance, calculated based on the number of eligible employees (including certified personnel and support staff like bus drivers or janitors) and their dependents. School districts must offer a flexible benefits plan including health coverage, allowing employees to use the allowance for health insurance or receive unused portions as taxable pay. The bill also updates definitions of "dependent" and requires the State Board of Education to report on self-insured health plans used by school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state-funded flexible benefits for school employees (including teachers/support staff) to cover health insurance, supporting educator welfare and retention.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state funding for school employee health insurance coverage under flexible benefits plan, expanding access to healthcare for employees and dependents.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes state-funded flexible benefits allowance for school employees' health insurance and dependents, expanding worker benefits through mandatory state appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 1178: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; making an appropriation; identifying sources of funds. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100k from General Revenue Fund to fund existing mental health services, directly supporting state budget allocation for public programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $100,000 for existing mental health/substance abuse services, directly funding public health programs per healthcare topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue Mental Health Substance Abuse

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 2011: Tax credits; Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act; income tax credit for certain unreimbursed medical costs incurred by firefighters; limitation; effective date.

HB 2011, titled "Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act," actually expands health insurance benefits for firefighters rather than providing tax credits, as the title incorrectly states. The bill amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 1315 to explicitly include municipal fire departments (organized under 11 O.S. § 29-101) and county fire departments (under 19 O.S. § 351) in the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Plans. This allows firefighters employed by these departments to access the same health insurance coverage available to state employees, including continuation of coverage after retirement or termination with eight years of service. The law, enacted without the Governor’s signature on May 27, 2025, directly affects firefighters in local fire departments by improving their access to health insurance benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded health insurance benefits for firefighters, increasing public service spending under existing budget frameworks without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands health insurance benefits for firefighters by including them in state employee health plans, advancing coverage access for public safety workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands health insurance benefits for firefighters by including municipal/county departments in state employee benefits plan, strengthening workplace health protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Insurance

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 107: Income tax; providing credit for certain ambulance service staff. Effective date.

SB 107 creates a state income tax credit for ambulance service staff in Oklahoma, effective for tax year 2025 and beyond. It provides specific credit amounts based on certification level: $100 for certified emergency medical responders, $200 for emergency medical technicians, $400 for intermediate/advanced EMTs, and $600 for paramedics. To qualify, workers must maintain required licenses/certifications and submit employer documentation verifying employment through the tax year, with only one credit allowed per tax year. The bill also requires the State Commissioner of Health to create an online submission form for this documentation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit for ambulance staff, offering relief to lower-income public service workers, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credits for ambulance staff (medical professionals), directly funding emergency healthcare workforce retention and access to services.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides direct tax credits to ambulance staff based on certification, increasing take-home pay as a form of wage support for specific workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Professional Licensing

Track

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

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 2797: Health Care Authority; prohibiting use of certain methodology; audits; fraud reporting; requiring joint collaboration between Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Department of Human Services; duties; emergency.

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.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill voids Medicaid repayment demands, reducing state revenue collection and directly impacting budget management.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits audits requiring Medicaid providers to repay claims, invalidating past repayment demands and protecting provider funding, which supports healthcare access and provider stability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse