Healthcare

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 761: Health care; creating the Lori Brand Patient Bill of Rights Act of 2025; specifying certain patient rights and responsibilities. Effective date.

SB 761, the Lori Brand Patient Bill of Rights Act of 2025, establishes 21 specific rights for patients receiving care in Oklahoma hospitals. It directly affects all patients by guaranteeing respectful care, clear communication, informed consent for treatments (including risks and alternatives), access to medical records, privacy protections, and the right to participate in care decisions. Key provisions require hospitals to provide advance directive information, honor ethical concerns, explain complaints processes, and disclose ownership details via public websites. The bill mandates these rights be communicated to patients upon admission or as needed, without altering existing legal standards for care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGuarantees patient rights including informed consent, medical records access, and respectful care - directly strengthens patient protections in healthcare.95% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1299: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; directing the Department of Human Services to seek certain federal waiver. Effective date.

SB 1299 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to seek a federal waiver allowing restrictions on SNAP benefits for certain foods (like sugary drinks or junk food) to improve nutrition and program efficiency. It directly affects SNAP recipients in Oklahoma by potentially limiting which foods they can purchase with their benefits. The bill mandates the department submit a detailed waiver request - including public health justification, retailer system plans, recipient education strategies, and impact tracking - within 60 days if initially denied. If approved, restrictions must be implemented within six months, and the department must provide annual reports on waiver status, spending patterns, and challenges to state leaders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts SNAP benefits for unhealthy foods to improve nutrition, directly supporting public health initiatives under healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2102: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Revenue and Taxation Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 2102 creates a 100% state tax credit for married Oklahoma taxpayers who pay for couples counseling services, defined as relationship-focused therapy provided by licensed therapists, doctors, or religious leaders. The credit applies to costs incurred for counseling during taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and reduces income tax liability but cannot lower it below zero. This policy directly affects legally married individuals in Oklahoma who seek counseling services, offering a financial incentive for such expenses. The credit is limited to the amount of state income tax owed and takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 100% tax credit reducing income tax liability for couples counseling, providing targeted tax relief under tax policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides 100% tax credit for couples counseling services, directly expanding access to mental health care for married Oklahomans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 737: Oklahoma Interventional Pain Management and Treatment Act; defining terms. Effective date.

SB 737 establishes the Oklahoma Interventional Pain Management and Treatment Act, defining "interventional pain management" as the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain using specific techniques like nerve ablation, spinal injections, or surgical procedures such as laser diskectomy. The bill requires all practitioners to hold a valid medical license under Oklahoma's existing medical licensure laws, prohibiting unlicensed practice of these services. It also sets clear supervision rules for certified nurse anesthetists, allowing them to administer certain pain treatments under a physician's direct oversight but banning them from operating freestanding pain clinics without a board-certified physician supervising the facility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensed practitioners for interventional pain management, ensuring patient safety and quality care standards under healthcare regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1397: Telemedicine for mental health; consent for medical treatment of minor; exceptions; penalties for violations; effective date.

HB 1397 requires written parental or guardian consent for most medical treatments, including prescriptions and surgeries, for minors under Oklahoma law. It specifically allows schools to use school-year consent for telemedicine mental health services at school sites without requiring parents to be present during the session. The bill exempts emergency care and abortions (which follow separate abortion laws), and violations carry misdemeanor penalties. This directly affects minors, parents/guardians, schools, and healthcare providers offering telemedicine services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly creates exception for school-based telemedicine mental health services without requiring parental presence during sessions, improving minor access to mental healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Telehealth Women's Health

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 11, 2026

HB 2268: Oklahoma Health Care Authority; making an appropriation; effective date; emergency.

HB 2268 requires the Oklahoma Medicaid Program or its contracted entities to reimburse providers for "cognitive assessment and care planning services" (defined using standard medical billing code 99483). This directly affects low-income Medicaid beneficiaries who receive these specific cognitive care services. The bill mandates reimbursement for these services under existing Medicaid rules, with no new funding or eligibility changes. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid reimbursement for cognitive care services (99483), ensuring continued access for low-income beneficiaries under existing rules without new funding, aligning with improved patient access indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

passed · Oklahoma · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 2033: Public health and safety; creating the Community Health Center Access to Care Revolving Rund; State Department of Health; appropriated funds; limits; effective date; emergency.

HB 2033 creates a revolving fund called the "Community Health Center Access to Care Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Department of Health. The fund, not limited by fiscal years, will use appropriated monies to increase access to care at federally authorized community health centers (as defined under 42 U.S.C. §330). The Department of Health can spend these funds to support such centers, with expenditures requiring State Treasurer warrants based on approved claims. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds via revolving fund to expand community health center access, increasing public service funding without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates revolving fund to increase access to community health centers, directly advancing healthcare access and funding public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Public Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 700: School athletics; directing the State Department of Education and the State Department of Health to develop certain guidelines regarding exertional heat-related illness. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 700 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education and State Department of Health to jointly create public guidelines for preventing and managing exertional heat-related illnesses in school athletics. It mandates specific safety measures, including hourly WBGT (heat stress) monitoring during practices, an 18-day acclimatization period limiting football teams to 14 practices before scrimmages, and school districts to develop venue-specific emergency action plans. The bill directly affects all public high schools offering interscholastic sports by requiring updated safety protocols, cooling zones, hydration guidelines, and parent education meetings. Effective July 1, 2025, this emergency measure aims to reduce heat-related medical incidents during athletic activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public health guidelines for heat illness prevention in schools, aligning with public health program protections and student health safety measures.85% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 161: Pharmacy benefit management; requiring pharmacy benefit managers to maintain certain fiduciary duty. Effective date.

SB 161 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operating in the state to uphold a specific fiduciary duty. This means PBMs must act in the best interests of patients, not just their own financial gain, when making decisions about drug coverage and pricing. The bill establishes new rules for how PBMs manage prescription drug benefits, mandating transparency and prioritizing patient welfare. It directly affects all PBMs providing services to health plans within the state, changing their operational obligations under current law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to prioritize patient welfare over profit, enhancing transparency in drug pricing and coverage decisions per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 570: Hospitals; imposing certain duties on hospital in cases of fetal death or miscarriage; requiring State Department of Health to publish certain form. Effective date.

SB 570 requires hospitals in Oklahoma to provide patients experiencing fetal death or miscarriage with a form explaining how to request official certificates (fetal death or stillbirth) before discharge. The form must detail the process for obtaining these certificates under existing law and include contact information for the Vital Records Division. The State Department of Health must develop and publish this form on its website. This bill directly affects hospitals and patients in these situations by standardizing information access, without changing certificate requirements or legal processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to provide patients with forms for fetal death certificates, improving access to medical documentation and patient rights in healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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