Healthcare

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1810: Medicaid; modifying, adding, and removing certain prior authorization requirements for contracted entities; effective date; emergency.

HB 1810 modifies Oklahoma's Medicaid prior authorization rules for healthcare providers and facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries. It streamlines approval processes for emergency services, clarifies requirements for "adverse determinations" (denied care), and defines key terms like "essential community provider" to ensure consistent application. The bill affects contracted entities (including hospitals, clinics, and dental providers) by requiring faster reviews for urgent care and updating how they handle denied claims. It became law on May 25, 2025, without the governor's signature, and directly impacts how Medicaid providers obtain approval for covered services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines Medicaid prior authorizations for emergencies and clarifies denied care processes, improving patient access to urgent services per bill summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

signed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 1516: Insurance; minors; contract for insurance; parental or guardian consent; effective date.

HB 1516 allows minors aged 15-16 to contract for life, accident, or health insurance with parental or guardian consent, and minors aged 16+ to contract for other types of insurance with consent. It specifies that these minors are legally bound by their insurance contracts (including settlements) but cannot be held responsible for unpaid premiums on unperformed agreements. The law, effective November 1, 2025, amends Oklahoma's insurance code to clarify minor contracting rights and responsibilities. This directly affects minors seeking insurance coverage and their parents/guardians who must provide written consent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables minors (15-16) to obtain health insurance with consent, facilitating access to coverage under clarified contracting rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 1255: Pardons and paroles; requiring medical director of the Department of Corrections to make certain request. Effective date.

SB 1255 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections medical director to certify qualifying medical conditions and request the Pardon and Parole Board to place eligible inmates on a special docket for compassionate parole consideration. It directly affects inmates with specific terminal or debilitating conditions like dementia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or conditions causing near-death (six-month life expectancy), or those unable to perform basic self-care. The bill bypasses the standard two-step parole hearing process for these inmates and mandates that at least three Board members must concur to consider medical parole. The Board must document concurrence in meeting minutes, and parolees may face revocation if their medical condition poses public safety risks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables compassionate parole for terminally ill/incapacitated inmates, reducing unnecessary incarceration and promoting humane treatment per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires medical certification for compassionate parole, improving access to healthcare outside prison for terminally ill inmates with qualifying conditions.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

passed both · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 1369: 988 Mental Health Lifeline; defining terms; suicide prevention and crisis service activities; standards; rules; creating the 988 Lifeline Revolving Fund; declaring funds appropriated. Effective date.

SB 1369 allocates $5.7 million from Oklahoma's general state funds to sustain and expand the state's 9-8-8 suicide and crisis hotline operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This funding directly supports Oklahomans in mental health crises by ensuring access to the 9-8-8 hotline service. The bill provides specific funding to maintain current operations while increasing capacity for crisis response. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency due to the urgent need for mental health support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5.7M from state funds for mental health crisis hotline, directly funding essential public service under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $5.7M to sustain and expand 9-8-8 mental health crisis hotline, directly supporting mental health services access and crisis response capacity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1368: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; making an appropriation; stating purpose. Emergency.

SB 1368 appropriates $70.5 million from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the 2025 fiscal year. It allocates $20 million to cover remaining Medicaid (Title XIX) costs, $18.5 million to fund provider payments through an Enhanced Tier Payment System, and $32 million to renew contracts with existing service providers. These funds are designated to supplement, not replace, current resources and programs. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation of these funding measures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $70.5M from General Revenue to fund mental health services, supplementing existing programs - directly advancing state budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $70.5M for mental health/substance abuse services including Medicaid coverage and provider payments, directly funding critical healthcare programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1772: Medicaid; out-of-state medical providers; term; effective date.

HB 1772 restricts Oklahoma's Medicaid program from contracting with out-of-state medical providers for in-person medical treatments when similar services are available from Oklahoma-licensed providers. It defines "treatment" as requiring the patient's physical presence and direct care by a provider, excluding remote services like lab analysis or diagnostics. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must seek federal approval to implement this change, which takes effect November 1, 2025. This bill directly affects Medicaid patients needing in-person care and out-of-state providers who may lose Medicaid contracts for such services.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts Medicaid contracting with out-of-state providers for in-person care, limiting patient access options when local providers are available, directly restricting coverage scope.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 205: Medical marijuana licenses; establishing certain license criteria; establishing certain purpose; establishing certain fees. Effective date.

SB 205 creates a new research license for collecting patient-reported outcomes related to medical marijuana use in Oklahoma. It authorizes research institutions, healthcare organizations, licensed cannabis businesses, and private research companies to conduct studies on medical marijuana's impact on health conditions. Licensees must pay a $500 nonrefundable fee, and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority will establish rules for application, compliance, and reporting. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates research license for medical marijuana health impact studies, advancing evidence-based healthcare policy through authorized research by healthcare institutions.95% confidence

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 1141: State Department of Health; requiring portions of certain appropriated funds be used for certain purposes; stating purpose of certain disbursement; requiring use of certain date. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1141 allocates $100,000 from unallocated state general revenue funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for its existing statutory duties. The bill requires these specific funds to be used for mental health services without creating new programs or altering current service requirements. An emergency clause makes the law effective immediately upon passage, bypassing the typical governor's signature requirement. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, after being passed without gubernatorial action.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $100,000 from state funds to mental health services, directly funding essential public programs without altering current requirements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $100k specifically for mental health services under existing statutory duties without altering current programs, directly advancing mental health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

Sub-Topics Special Education