HB 1915 establishes rules for using artificial intelligence (AI) in Oklahoma healthcare. It requires hospitals and healthcare facilities (deployers) to ensure AI devices used for diagnosis or treatment are only operated by licensed physicians (qualified end-users) who review all AI outputs for accuracy. Deployers must create quality assurance programs, document all AI use - including overrides of AI recommendations - and maintain an AI governance group with physician input. The law mandates compliance with federal FDA guidelines, tracks performance through national registries when possible, and authorizes the State Department of Health to enforce penalties for violations, effective November 2025.
SB 225 establishes the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council within the State Department of Health to address the needs of Oklahomans with rare diseases. The council directly affects rare disease patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and related organizations by providing guidance on policy, care access, and emergency planning. Key provisions include holding public hearings, developing recommendations for healthcare coverage and diagnostics, creating emergency care protocols, and requiring annual reports to the legislature. Membership includes 13+ diverse stakeholders like patients, physicians, insurers, biopharma representatives, and researchers, appointed by the Governor and Council chair. The council must submit annual reports detailing its work and policy recommendations to the Governor and legislature.
SB 519 prohibits Oklahoma hospitals from using certain debt collection tactics against patients for services provided when the hospital was not following price transparency laws. Specifically, it bans hospitals from referring debts to third-party collectors, suing patients, or reporting debts to credit bureaus during those non-compliant periods. The bill directly affects patients who received care from hospitals not meeting transparency requirements, while allowing hospitals to continue normal billing practices. It becomes effective November 1, 2025, and does not require refunds for past payments.
This bill (HB 1837) protects Oklahoma residents using Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts by exempting these funds from being seized for debts or used to calculate eligibility for public assistance. Specifically, it ensures ABLE account balances cannot be claimed by creditors, garnished, or used to determine benefits under programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It also prevents Medicaid from seeking repayment from these accounts after a beneficiary's death. The law applies to both Oklahoma-established ABLE accounts and those from other states, effective November 1, 2025.
SB 207 establishes the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council within the State Department of Health to address the needs of Oklahomans living with rare diseases (defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationally). The Council, composed of 13 diverse members including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and industry representatives, will conduct public hearings, develop policy recommendations, and create emergency care protocols to improve access to specialists, diagnostics, and equitable treatment. The bill also modifies Oklahoma’s newborn screening program to require an educational initiative for treatable genetic disorders, aiming to prevent intellectual disabilities and reduce infant mortality through early intervention. This legislation directly affects rare disease patients, their families, healthcare providers, and state agencies responsible for public health programs in Oklahoma.
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.
SB 574 expands the types of opioid-related projects eligible for state grant funding by allowing the Attorney General to allocate funds toward new prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives. It directly affects state agencies and community organizations receiving opioid grants by broadening allowable uses beyond current restrictions. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to use grant funds for specific, previously ineligible activities, such as community-based support programs. This policy change modifies how opioid grant funds are distributed without altering the grant application process.
SB 670 requires health care providers to complete specific continuing education on mental health screening as part of their ongoing training. This applies directly to licensed health care professionals who provide patient care, such as doctors, nurses, and counselors. The bill mandates that this training include standardized mental health screening protocols to be integrated into routine patient evaluations. It does not create new funding or insurance requirements, but instead sets a professional development standard for current providers. The bill is currently pending in committee after passing a committee review with amendments.
SB 29 requires licensed healthcare providers in Oklahoma to offer pharmacogenomic testing to patients before prescribing psychotropic medications (like antidepressants or antipsychotics). This applies to all patients receiving such prescriptions and mandates providers to explain the test's benefits, confirm if it's FDA-approved, provide a cost estimate, and obtain the patient's informed consent. If consent is given, the test must be administered before the medication is prescribed. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, aiming to personalize treatment based on genetic factors affecting drug response.
SB 1005 requires Oklahoma hospitals to provide patients with a detailed, itemized billing statement within 30 business days after discharge. The statement must include specific details like service dates, medical procedure codes, charges, insurance payments, patient payments, and final payment amounts. Hospitals must also provide similar itemized statements to insurance companies upon request within one year of receiving a claim. The Oklahoma State Department of Health can enforce this by imposing fines or suspending hospital licenses for noncompliance.
