SB 423 updates Oklahoma's medical records access law by establishing standardized fees for patients and their representatives to obtain copies of medical records. Patients pay $0.50 per page for standard records, $15 for printed x-rays, and $20 for x-rays on CD/DVD, with providers prohibited from charging for searching or preparing records for the patient. The bill excludes psychological, psychiatric, mental health, and substance abuse records from these provisions, requiring separate access under different legal processes. It also sets higher fees for third parties (e.g., $20 base fee plus per-page charges for attorneys), while maintaining existing rules for disability-related requests.
This bill approves specific permanent rules proposed by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which will govern how medical marijuana is regulated in the state. By signing off on these rules, the legislature allows the authority to enforce new guidelines for medical marijuana programs. The resolution also instructs the Secretary of State to send copies of the approved rules to the Governor and the editor of The Oklahoma Register.
HB 4423 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify the immigration status of all Medicaid applicants using the federal SAVE system (or its successor) before approving benefits. It specifically mandates that the Authority notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if an applicant's status cannot be verified as lawful. This applies to all applicants, including adults applying for child-only Medicaid benefits on behalf of a child. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not change Medicaid eligibility criteria but adds a verification step for immigration status.
HB 4431 requires Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma, or their employers, to carry malpractice insurance covering $1 million per incident and $3 million annually. This applies to APRNs practicing outside federal or state employment where coverage is already provided under federal insurance or Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. The law exempts APRNs working for federal agencies (covered by federal insurance) or state agencies (covered under Tort Claims Act) during their official duties. It takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting APRNs who provide care outside these exempted employment settings.
SB 1553 amends Oklahoma's Medicaid appeal process to ensure appeals for denied claims are reviewed by qualified mental health professionals. It requires reviewers (like psychologists) to hold valid licenses, have relevant clinical experience, and avoid conflicts of interest, while banning automated review systems. The bill also establishes that if an appeal successfully reverses a denied claim, the psychologist or mental health provider can recover costs for time spent on the appeal. This directly affects Medicaid members, providers, and mental health professionals handling appeals.
SB 1425 repeals three existing Oklahoma statutes related to health care workforce programs: 70 O.S. 2021 §2640 (Oklahoma Health Care Workers and Educators Assistance Program) and 74 O.S. 2021 §§3200.1-3200.2 (Health Care Workforce Resources Act). This bill eliminates the legal framework for these specific programs, which previously provided assistance to health care workers and educators. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2026, and directly affects the administrative structure and operations of those programs. No new provisions or funding are created; the bill solely removes the existing laws.
SB 1555 updates Oklahoma's Medicaid definitions for "individual with intellectual disability" and "developmental disability" to align with current standards. It raises the age for disability manifestation from 18 to 22 years, refines IQ criteria (e.g., requiring scores below 70 or 71-75 with specific scoring), and revises adaptive skill areas to match Social Security Administration guidelines for daily living skills. These changes directly affect Medicaid eligibility for individuals seeking home- and community-based services under Oklahoma Statutes §1406-1424. The bill ensures existing Medicaid recipients as of September 1, 1991, remain eligible, and the Department of Human Services may expand services for underserved individuals within available resources. The updated definitions take effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3265 amends Oklahoma's police pension law to clarify disability benefit eligibility for law enforcement officers. It specifically expands the definition of "mental health specialist" to include licensed psychologists for disability certification (Section G). The bill establishes a clear benefit scale based on disability percentage (e.g., 50-74% impairment equals 75% of accrued retirement benefit) and presumes line-of-duty disability for officers exposed to hazardous substances like chemicals or blood-borne pathogens, unless proven otherwise (Section I). These changes directly affect Oklahoma police officers seeking disability benefits through the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System.
HB 3644 (the Blake Burgess Act) requires hospitals with emergency departments and ambulatory surgical centers to implement standardized VTE (venous thromboembolism, or blood clot in veins) risk assessments for patients using nationally recognized tools and provide annual training to non-physician clinical staff. It mandates a statewide VTE registry managed by a private, nonprofit entity meeting specific criteria, which hospitals must report to starting July 2027 with data including patient age, zip code, sex, diagnosis details, and treatment. The registry collects information to improve VTE care quality, monitor outcomes, and inform state health reports, with hospitals required to submit data on VTE incidence, patient demographics, and treatment. The law directly affects hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and their clinical staff through new screening, training, and reporting obligations.
HB 3834, the "Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act," establishes a framework for ibogaine clinical trials in Oklahoma. It requires drug developers to match state funding for trials, provide detailed plans for FDA approval and post-approval patient access (including priority for state residents and low-income care), and share intellectual property proceeds with the state. These proceeds fund an "Ibogaine Intellectual Property Account" managed by the State Treasurer, which must be spent on programs for at-risk populations with conditions treatable by ibogaine (like opioid use disorder). The bill also protects Oklahoma-licensed medical professionals from adverse licensing actions for recommending ibogaine therapy.
