Healthcare

passed both · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2025

HCR 1007: Concurrent resolution; rural health care; Stark Law.

HCR 1007 is a concurrent resolution requesting Oklahoma be exempt from the federal Stark Law (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn), which restricts physician self-referrals to facilities where they have financial interests. The resolution states this federal rule impedes rural healthcare access in Oklahoma and seeks exemption for rural health care providers and facilities from Stark Law requirements. It specifically asks for exemption from both the law itself and any related federal administrative rules affecting rural medical care delivery. This is a symbolic legislative request to the federal government, not a change to Oklahoma law, and does not alter current Stark Law enforcement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks Stark Law exemption to improve rural healthcare access by removing physician self-referral restrictions, directly addressing access barriers per summary.95% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 884: Abortion; creating the Oklahoma Right to Life Act; prohibiting certain acts; imposing certain duty on health care providers; providing certain penalty and immunities. Emergency.

SB 884, the "Oklahoma Right to Life Act," bans nearly all abortions in Oklahoma by prohibiting anyone from performing, attempting, or aiding in an abortion. It defines "abortion" broadly as any action to terminate a pregnancy (except for specific cases like preserving the life of the unborn person after live birth or removing a dead unborn person from a miscarriage or trauma), and defines "unborn person" as beginning at conception. The law imposes criminal penalties, including first-degree murder charges for violations, though it requires health care providers to attempt a live birth during life-threatening medical emergencies involving the pregnant person. It explicitly excludes contraceptives used before pregnancy is detectable. The bill is classified as an emergency measure.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBans nearly all abortions, restricting access to reproductive healthcare services which are part of healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 29, 2025

HB 1389: Mammography screening; coverage for low-dose mammography screening; examinations; definition; effective date.

This bill requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover low-dose mammography screenings for breast cancer without cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays). It mandates coverage once every five years for women aged 35-39 and annually for women 40 and older. The law also requires coverage for necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast exams, including those for high-risk cases like dense breast tissue. The policy takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for mammograms without cost-sharing, expanding access to preventive breast cancer screening for specific age groups and high-risk cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1224: Health care; minor self-consent to health services; granting certain protections to parent or legal guardian related to medical records; effective date.

HB 1224 allows certain minors to consent to specific health services without parental approval, including treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, or sexual assault. Parents generally retain access to their minor child's medical records, but this right is limited when the minor uses the bill's self-consent provisions for the listed health conditions. Health professionals must make a reasonable attempt to notify parents for emergency care but are not required to inform them for most other services covered under the bill. The bill also protects health providers from liability when acting in good faith under these rules, ensuring minors' confidentiality in sensitive health matters.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables minors to access sensitive health services (pregnancy, STIs, etc.) without parental consent, expanding patient access and protecting rights in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 789: Pharmacy benefit managers; permitting use of certain records without limitations of date or source for certain purposes; establishing certain reimbursement rates for certain drugs. Effective date.

SB 789, now effective as of May 28, 2025, restricts how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) can audit pharmacies. It requires PBMs to give pharmacies 14 days' notice (30 days for wholesale audits), prohibits recouping funds for simple errors like typos, and allows pharmacies to use hospital/physician records or any drug purchase records (without date/source limits) to validate claims. The law also caps audits at 50 prescriptions per pharmacy annually and mandates that any recouped funds first be refunded to the patient. This directly affects pharmacies, PBMs, and patients by standardizing audit practices and protecting against unfair financial penalties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts unfair PBM audits, prohibits recouping funds for minor errors, and allows flexible record use to protect pharmacies and ensure patient access to medications.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Prescription Drugs

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1887: Public health and safety; definitions; surgical smoke policies for health care employers; effective date.

HB 1887 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, and outpatient surgical centers in Oklahoma to implement policies mandating the use of smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures that generate surgical smoke (like from lasers or scalpels). These systems must capture and filter smoke at its source before it reaches medical staff or patients. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, directly affecting healthcare employers who perform smoke-producing surgeries. It defines "surgical smoke" as gaseous by-products from energy-generating surgical tools.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates smoke evacuation systems to protect medical staff and patients from surgical smoke hazards, directly enhancing workplace safety and patient health protection in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires healthcare employers to implement smoke evacuation systems, directly improving workplace safety for medical staff by preventing exposure to harmful surgical smoke.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 444: Controlled dangerous substances; modifying and removing requirements and procedures related to destruction requiring compliance with federal regulation. Effective date.

SB 444 updates Oklahoma's rules for disposing of expired, unused, or abandoned controlled substances (like prescription medications). It allows regular people (ultimate users) to safely dispose of their own medications without registration, permits hospice programs to handle medications from deceased patients under federal rules, and removes previous restrictions on disposal methods. All disposal must follow federal guidelines (21 C.F.R. Part 1317), require specific forms for hospice cases, and be documented for state/federal review. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables safe disposal of controlled substances, reducing misuse risks and supporting public health initiatives through federal-compliant disposal methods.85% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 736: Income tax; creating the Health Care Sharing Ministry Tax Parity Act; stating certain deduction and procedures; requiring Oklahoma Tax Commission to create forms and guidelines. Effective date.

SB 736 creates the "Health Care Sharing Ministry Tax Parity Act," allowing Oklahoma residents who are active members of qualifying health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) to deduct their contributions from their state income tax starting in 2026. It directly affects Oklahoma residents who have been active HCSM members for at least one month during the tax year, treating their contributions like health insurance premiums for tax purposes. The bill requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to develop forms for claiming the deduction, prohibits taxing reimbursements from HCSMs, and mandates annual reporting on the program's impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for HCSM contributions, reducing taxable income for qualifying residents - provides tax relief per SUPPORT indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows tax deductions for health care sharing ministry contributions, treating them like insurance premiums to expand coverage options for residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Insurance

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1332: Revenue and taxation; income tax credit; definition; credit amounts; requirements; effective date.

HB 1332 creates a new income tax credit for Oklahoma-licensed emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. It provides tiered credits based on certification level: $100 for emergency medical responders (EMRs), $200 for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), $400 for advanced/intermediate EMTs (AEMTs), and $600 for paramedics. To qualify, workers must maintain active Oklahoma licensure and be verified as current employees by their ambulance service administrator through a new online system managed by the State Department of Health. The credit applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and can be combined with other tax credits. This bill directly affects licensed EMS workers employed in Oklahoma ambulance services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credits ($100-$600) to EMS workers, reducing their tax burden - direct tax relief for lower/middle-income public service workers.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credits to EMS personnel ($100-$600) to support healthcare workforce retention and recruitment in emergency medical services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Medical Licensing Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 226: Medicaid program; providing for certain reimbursement methodology for certain hospitals. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 226 changes how Oklahoma reimburses hospitals under its Medicaid program. It requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to pay rural emergency hospitals more for services to Medicaid patients and to pay 25% more for obstetrical care at hospitals certified as "Baby-Friendly" by Baby-Friendly USA. The bill mandates seeking federal approval for the obstetrics reimbursement change and takes effect July 1, 2025. These adjustments directly affect rural emergency hospitals and Baby-Friendly designated hospitals providing maternity care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursements for rural hospitals and Baby-Friendly OB care, enhancing funding and access for covered services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Women's Health

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