HB 4430 changes Oklahoma's rules for physician assistants (PAs) by allowing those with 6,240+ hours of postgraduate clinical experience to practice without physician supervision. PAs meeting this threshold must report their hours to the State Board online (no fee), and the Board will maintain a public list of qualifying PAs. PAs with fewer hours or unreported experience must maintain practice agreements with physicians, including telecommunication requirements and regular reviews. The bill also clarifies prescription authority: experienced PAs can prescribe without delegation, while supervised PAs must follow their physician's delegated protocols, especially for controlled substances.
HB 4118 proposes a tax credit for Oklahoma caregivers of eligible family members. It allows a 50% credit on qualifying expenses - such as medical travel mileage, home modifications, medical equipment, and hiring aides - for caregivers with income under $50,000 (or $100,000 for couples) caring for someone aged 62+ who needs help with two or more daily living tasks (like bathing, dressing, or eating). The credit caps at $2,000 annually per family, rising to $3,000 if the care recipient is a veteran or has dementia. The total annual credit pool is limited to $1.5 million, with unused funds adjusted yearly. If passed, it would take effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1984 amends Oklahoma's Osteopathic Medicine Act to modernize regulations for osteopathic physicians and the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. It clarifies definitions (like "emergency" and "emergency suspension"), expands the Board's subpoena power and authority to design exams, and updates disciplinary procedures by adding/removing grounds for action. The bill also requires electronic license renewals, clarifies telemedicine practice rules (requiring a proper patient record for remote care), and specifies conditions for emergency license suspensions. These changes directly affect licensed osteopathic physicians in Oklahoma, the regulatory Board, and patients through updated oversight and licensing processes.
This bill approves specific rule changes proposed by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority regarding the state's medical cannabis program. By passing this resolution, the legislature officially adopts these new regulations, which will guide how medical marijuana is distributed and managed. The Oklahoma Secretary of State is tasked with sending a copy of the approved rules to the Governor and the official state register. This action formalizes the authority's operational guidelines without altering the underlying laws governing medical marijuana use.
HB 3934 creates two new "extended care permits" for dental hygienists in Oklahoma to expand access to preventive dental care for underserved populations. Permit I allows hygienists to provide services in schools, foster care, youth programs, and clinics for children (birth to grade 12) with specific experience requirements (1,200 hours or teaching). Permit II allows similar services for seniors (65+) and people with developmental disabilities in residential facilities, requiring 1,600 hours and special training. Both permits require supervision by a licensed dentist, restrict services to preventive care (like cleanings and fluoride), and mandate reporting to the supervising dentist. The bill directly affects dental hygienists seeking expanded practice and the vulnerable groups they serve in community settings.
SB 1447 prohibits the Oklahoma Employees Insurance Plan from awarding contracts to pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) that have settled lawsuits, been fined, or faced judgments exceeding $4 million in the past five years. The bill requires that state contract evaluations must favor PBMs headquartered in Oklahoma for at least one year and disfavor PBMs with corporate ties to health insurers, retail pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, or drug manufacturers. Contracted PBMs must also certify compliance with Oklahoma’s health information laws and maintain SOC 2 Type 2 security certification. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1484 requires Oklahoma medical examiners to conduct standardized investigations for sudden infant or young deaths (including SIDS, SUID, SDY, and SADS), mandating autopsies when needed, review of medical records, and documentation of recent immunizations. It requires medical examiners to notify parents or legal guardians before investigations begin and grants them the right to refuse parts of the process unless a crime is suspected. The bill expands mandatory investigations to cover all sudden unexplained deaths in children under 20, requiring reporting to a national CDC/NIH registry and sharing findings with the State Department of Health. This directly affects medical examiners, parents/guardians of deceased children, and state health authorities through new procedural requirements.
SB 1567 modifies Oklahoma's rules for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) by allowing supervising physicians to charge reasonable fees for oversight services, requiring these fees to be disclosed in written agreements and based on fair market value. The bill prohibits the Oklahoma Board of Nursing from imposing fees for maintaining supervision agreements or related administrative tasks. It also mandates that supervision agreements include specific details like fee structures, scope of practice, emergency plans, and alternate physician designations. This directly affects APRNs who rely on physician supervision and supervising physicians, streamlining oversight requirements while ensuring transparency in fee arrangements.
SB 1428 creates the Office of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Service Coordination within Oklahoma’s State Department of Health, effective November 1, 2026. The office will coordinate statewide dementia services, eliminate duplicated efforts, collect data, support staff training, and identify grant opportunities to improve care for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias and their caregivers. It requires the office to maintain a full-time dementia services coordinator position to manage operations. The bill repeals two outdated sections of Oklahoma law (63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1-879.2 and 1-879.3) related to dementia services.
SB 1500 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and other payors to pay pharmacies within 30 days for "clean claims" (properly submitted claims without issues). It prohibits PBMs from conditioning payments on post-transaction reconciliations or shifting payment delays to pharmacies, and mandates transparent accounting for payments. The bill also authorizes Oklahoma’s Attorney General to impose fines for violations and voids contracts that violate these rules. These changes directly affect pharmacies (as providers) and PBMs/insurers (as payors) by standardizing payment timelines and reducing financial risk for pharmacies.
