Healthcare (Insurance)

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 2013: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP); Dylan's Law; Service Oklahoma; driver license; unique symbol; voluntary; State Commissioner of Health; power and duty; Division of Health Care Information; autopsy; findings; records; determination; effective date.

HB 2013, "Dylan's Law," requires health insurance companies to cover epilepsy treatments equally to other conditions, prohibits dropping coverage solely due to an epilepsy diagnosis, and mandates coverage for medically necessary neurostimulation devices. It also allows individuals with epilepsy (diagnosed by a licensed doctor) to voluntarily add a unique symbol to their Oklahoma driver's license or ID card by June 1, 2026, to help first responders identify their condition during emergencies. The symbol cannot be used for any other purpose and may be removed at any time. These provisions became law on May 25, 2025, without a gubernatorial signature. The bill directly affects people with epilepsy and insurers operating under the Affordable Care Act in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for epilepsy treatments, prohibits coverage denial based on diagnosis, and requires coverage for neurostimulation devices - directly expanding patient access and protecting rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

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

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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

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

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1686: Sepsis protocols; requiring certain payors to use specified clinical criteria; effective date.

HB 1686 requires hospitals to establish evidence-based sepsis protocols for early identification and treatment of patients with sepsis or septic shock, including staff training and population-specific guidelines (e.g., for pediatric or adult patients). It also mandates that Medicaid payors and health insurance plans (including private insurers) use specific clinical criteria for sepsis billing: a provider’s diagnosis of sepsis plus two symptoms of inflammatory response (such as fever, rapid heartbeat, or abnormal white blood cell count). The bill directly affects hospitals providing care and insurance companies administering Medicaid or health benefit plans in Oklahoma. It becomes effective November 1, 2025, aligning with federal coding standards for sepsis diagnosis.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates evidence-based sepsis protocols and billing criteria to improve early treatment, enhancing patient care standards and aligning with healthcare quality protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Insurance

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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

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 515: Health insurance; authorizing health care provider to accept certain payments; requiring application of certain charge to deductible and maximum out-of-pocket expense. Effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows direct patient payments to providers at lower rates, counts toward deductibles/out-of-pocket max, reducing costs and improving access without balance billing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

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

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance

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