Healthcare (Medical Licensing)

HB 1606 establishes the Oklahoma Massage Therapy Board to regulate the profession and amends Oklahoma's Massage Therapy Practice Act. The bill sets licensing requirements for massage therapists and schools, prohibits unlicensed practice using terms like "massage therapist," and defines the scope of practice (e.g., therapists cannot diagnose illness, use ultrasound, or prescribe medicine). It clarifies that physicians and other licensed health professionals providing services within their scope do not need additional massage therapy licensing, and permits limited exceptions for students, visiting instructors, and emergency response teams. The bill is currently pending after being withdrawn from committees in February 2025.

HB 1812 modifies supervision rules for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) working in hospitals. The bill specifically changes requirements so that hospitals - not all healthcare facilities - must oversee APRNs employed by or contracted with them. Key provisions clarify that hospitals must establish supervision protocols for these nurses, while exempting APRNs working outside hospital settings. This directly affects hospital-employed APRNs and the hospitals responsible for their oversight, with no changes to other nurse supervision standards.

SB 1033 requires out-of-state pharmacies that ship drugs into Oklahoma to obtain a license from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy and comply with state pharmacy laws. It mandates initial and annual on-site inspections by Oklahoma inspectors (not out-of-state agencies), with pharmacies covering inspection costs. Key violations include breaching pharmacy technician ratios, shipping abortion-inducing drugs in violation of state law, or failing to follow storage guidelines, leading to fines up to $50,000 or license revocation for non-compliance. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.