SB 668 caps fees that health care staffing agencies can charge when placing workers who previously worked at a hospital or nursing facility. Specifically, the fee cannot exceed 105% of the worker’s highest hourly wage paid by that facility within the past two years. Covered facilities (hospitals or licensed nursing/specialized facilities) can sue agencies for violations if they fail to correct excessive fees after being notified with payroll records. If found liable, agencies must pay damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
This bill updates Oklahoma's teledentistry rules, requiring dentists to hold an Oklahoma license when diagnosing or treating patients remotely within the state and mandating that all teledentistry records be maintained in Oklahoma or within 50 miles of its border. It also expands the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program, offering up to $60,000 annually for five years to dentists who agree to provide care to Medicaid patients (at least 30% of their practice) and serve in designated underserved areas (with exemptions for specialists and FQHC providers). The program prioritizes new dental graduates, particularly from the University of Oklahoma, and requires participants to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry if selected as faculty. The law aims to increase dental access in rural and underserved communities while ensuring Medicaid-dependent patients receive care.
SB 801, the Oklahoma Medicine Injury Justice Act, makes pharmaceutical companies directly liable in Oklahoma courts for harm caused by their products to Oklahoma citizens. It requires companies to pay financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or fraud. The bill explicitly removes federal immunities (like the PREP Act) that previously shielded companies from state court claims, ensuring all cases are heard in Oklahoma state courts without mandatory arbitration. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and asserts Oklahoma’s authority to enforce accountability under state constitutional protections.
SB 1382 establishes Oklahoma's Medicaid Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for members with prediabetes, requiring the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement an evidence-based lifestyle program aligned with CDC standards. The program mandates 22 initial coaching sessions over one year (with maintenance sessions for those achieving 5% weight loss), delivered by trained peer coaches using CDC-approved curricula focused on healthy eating and physical activity. Medicaid providers must offer the program, and payment for services is limited to 80% of Medicare rates, with unlicensed coaches needing provider arrangements for reimbursement. The bill affects Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees with prediabetes and their providers, effective November 1, 2026.
SB 811 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to implement a community-based competency restoration pilot program for defendants found incompetent to stand trial but capable of regaining competence with treatment. The bill directly affects individuals in the criminal justice system who are deemed incompetent due to mental health needs but not intellectually disabled or dangerous. Key provisions mandate the department to provide treatment in community settings (instead of solely in forensic facilities), make regular court reports on defendants' progress, and establish clear pathways for resuming trials or transitioning to civil commitment if competence isn't restored. The pilot program specifically aligns with a court-ordered consent decree from the Briggs v. Friesen case. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 2754 establishes the Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program to provide financial support to qualifying rural hospitals. It directly affects publicly owned hospitals in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents that meet federal critical access hospital standards. The program creates a revolving fund in the state treasury, administered by the State Department of Health, to award grants prioritizing areas with significant healthcare access barriers due to distance. Grants are limited to the total funds available in the revolving fund, and the program becomes effective July 1, 2025.
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.
SB 567 allows patients in Oklahoma to request that healthcare providers or covered entities restrict the disclosure of certain protected health information, such as details about treatment, payment, or health care operations, and personal details like Social Security numbers or financial data. It applies to all healthcare providers, hospitals, and insurance companies covered under federal privacy rules (HIPAA). Patients can specifically ask for limits on sharing information with family members, other providers, or for billing purposes. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 515 allows Oklahoma health insurance enrollees to pay health care providers directly for covered, medically necessary services at negotiated lower prices. If the patient pays out of pocket for such a service (at a price below the insurer's standard rate), the provider must accept it as full payment and cannot bill for any balance. The insurer must then count this payment toward the patient's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, depending on whether the provider was in-network or out-of-network. The bill applies to most health benefit plans (excluding Medicaid, Medicare supplements, and short-term plans) and takes effect November 1, 2025. It directly affects patients, providers, and insurers by changing how out-of-pocket payments count toward coverage costs.
SB 252 changes how Oklahoma's Medicaid program covers prescription drugs. It requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to transition all Medicaid members' prescription drug coverage from contracted health plans to a direct fee-for-service model, meaning OHCA will directly pay pharmacists and pharmacies instead of using managed care contracts. The bill prohibits OHCA from contracting with pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) but allows participation in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and value-based payment arrangements. This change affects all Medicaid beneficiaries covered under existing managed care contracts, with implementation dependent on federal approval.
