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.
HB 2802 amends Oklahoma's licensing laws for professions and occupations to limit when criminal history can block a license. It prohibits denial based on sealed/expunged records, arrests without conviction, or convictions over five years old (unless involving specific violent offenses like domestic abuse or sex offenses). Licensing agencies must now consider factors like the offense's relevance to the job, time passed, rehabilitation efforts, and provide written notice with appeal rights if denying a license. This directly affects applicants with criminal records seeking licenses for jobs like nursing, contracting, or childcare, ensuring decisions are based on specific, relevant criteria rather than vague standards.
HB 1676, the "Kay Floyd SANE Act," creates a new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Statewide Coordinator position within Oklahoma's District Attorneys Council. The coordinator will oversee forensic medical exam training, recruit SANE professionals, develop local SANE and Sexual Assault Response Team programs, and manage payments from the Sexual Assault Examination Fund. The role requires a minimum annual salary of $125,000, funded through the District Attorneys Council's appropriations. The position is established until October 1, 2025, with the bill taking effect November 1, 2025. This directly affects county-level sexual assault response systems and SANE program expansion statewide.
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.
HB 1111 simplifies SNAP eligibility for Oklahomans aged 60+ or with disabilities who have no earned income and live in qualifying households. It allows these individuals to skip annual recertification, use a shortened application form, and remain eligible for benefits for 36 months after approval. The bill also establishes a minimum $100 standard medical deduction for households with elderly or disabled members, covering verified expenses like prescriptions and doctor visits, pending a USDA waiver. These changes take effect November 1, 2025, for all new applications and recertifications.
HB 1416 requires insurers offering group health plans for state employees to ensure non-opioid pain medications (approved by the FDA) are not disadvantaged in coverage compared to opioids on their preferred drug lists. It directly affects state employee health insurance plans by mandating equal treatment for FDA-approved non-opioid pain drugs, such as those that don’t act on opioid receptors. The bill does not ban opioids or require non-opioid use but prohibits insurers from making non-opioid options harder to access through coverage rules. This applies to all drugs covered under state employee plans and takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 2233 updates Oklahoma's Massage Therapy Practice Act by clarifying licensing rules and scope of practice for massage therapists. It directly affects licensed massage therapists, massage therapy schools, and other health professionals who may provide massage services. Key changes include renaming the regulating board to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, explicitly allowing "direct access" (public can seek massage without medical referral), and defining massage therapy as soft tissue techniques (e.g., touch, pressure, heat) while prohibiting diagnosis, prescribing, or medical techniques like ultrasound. The bill also clarifies exemptions for physicians, students, and specific practices like the Feldenkrais Method when performed within their established professional scope.
HB 1934, the "Jamie Lea Pearl Act," establishes rules for small medical transportation providers in Oklahoma. It requires these "medical needs motor carriers" to be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, operate vehicles with a maximum weight of 5,000 pounds and capacity for five passengers (including the driver), and provide non-emergency medical transport (like dialysis or cancer treatment) at little or no cost. Key provisions include mandating $100,000 insurance per person for bodily injury, quarterly vehicle safety inspections, a 10-hour daily driving limit for drivers, and retention of background checks and drug test records for two years. The law directly affects small companies transporting patients for non-emergency medical needs, excluding regular taxis, school buses, or commercial carriers.
This bill updates Oklahoma's teledentistry rules, requiring dentists to hold an Oklahoma license when diagnosing or treating patients remotely within the state and mandating that all teledentistry records be maintained in Oklahoma or within 50 miles of its border. It also expands the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program, offering up to $60,000 annually for five years to dentists who agree to provide care to Medicaid patients (at least 30% of their practice) and serve in designated underserved areas (with exemptions for specialists and FQHC providers). The program prioritizes new dental graduates, particularly from the University of Oklahoma, and requires participants to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry if selected as faculty. The law aims to increase dental access in rural and underserved communities while ensuring Medicaid-dependent patients receive care.
HB 1831 creates Oklahoma's first formal certification system for community health workers, establishing voluntary certification through the State Department of Health. It defines key terms, sets eligibility (Oklahoma residency, 18+ years old, U.S. residency, and 1,000 hours work experience option), and requires the Department to set standards, exams, and fees. The law specifically enables certified workers to serve as health liaisons, identify service gaps, and build community health capacity - while also authorizing partnerships with faith-based organizations for outreach. The certification becomes effective November 1, 2025, and does not require mandatory certification for workers.
