HB 2784 creates the Emergency Medicine Revolving Fund to preserve Medicaid supplemental payments for specific hospitals. It directly affects Oklahoma hospitals with American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma centers, particularly those owned, operated, or partnered with the Oklahoma State University Medical Trust or University Hospitals Trust (including facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa). The bill requires annual certification by the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority to ensure trauma centers meet standards for receiving these payments, while also clarifying agreements between medical authorities and healthcare providers. Key provisions include maintaining existing Medicaid funding streams for teaching hospitals, trauma centers, and affiliated medical school providers, and directing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to develop plans to sustain these payments through federal waivers or state plan amendments.
HB 2777 allocates $20 million from Oklahoma's Opioid Lawsuit Settlement Fund to the state's Opioid Abatement Revolving Fund for opioid-related programs, and $1.25 million to local governments that did not sue opioid manufacturers. The bill directs these funds to be used for opioid abatement efforts, such as treatment and prevention services, without requiring new taxes. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was signed into law on May 29, 2025. The legislation uses existing settlement funds rather than creating new spending.
SB 1067 creates a new database for ambulance service providers and changes how health insurers pay for ambulance services in Oklahoma. It requires ambulance providers to report specific data to this database and modifies the rates and criteria insurers use to reimburse ambulance services. This bill directly affects ambulance companies and health insurance providers by establishing new reporting requirements and payment rules. The law became effective without the Governor's signature on May 28, 2025.
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.
SB 889 requires Oklahoma hospitals to publicly post detailed pricing information online in an accessible, machine-readable format. It directly affects licensed hospitals and state-owned hospital facilities by mandating they publish a digital list of standard charges for all services, including gross charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates with insurers. The bill specifies that hospitals must display this information free of charge, without requiring user accounts, and update it annually on their public website. This transparency measure aims to help patients compare costs for services like procedures, room fees, and supplies before receiving care.
HB 2807 creates a new "medical marijuana transporter license" category for businesses handling medical marijuana products. It allows licensed transporters (including current growers, processors, dispensaries, and new applicants) to operate warehouses with annual permits, maintain security-compliant storage, and use a state tracking system for all shipments. The bill requires GPS trackers on transport vehicles, labeled secure containers, and detailed inventory manifests documenting all movements. These provisions directly affect medical marijuana businesses, transporters, and warehouses by standardizing transportation rules and enhancing product tracking across Oklahoma.
HB 2011, titled "Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act," actually expands health insurance benefits for firefighters rather than providing tax credits, as the title incorrectly states. The bill amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 1315 to explicitly include municipal fire departments (organized under 11 O.S. § 29-101) and county fire departments (under 19 O.S. § 351) in the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Plans. This allows firefighters employed by these departments to access the same health insurance coverage available to state employees, including continuation of coverage after retirement or termination with eight years of service. The law, enacted without the Governor’s signature on May 27, 2025, directly affects firefighters in local fire departments by improving their access to health insurance benefits.
HB 1810 modifies Oklahoma's Medicaid prior authorization rules for healthcare providers and facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries. It streamlines approval processes for emergency services, clarifies requirements for "adverse determinations" (denied care), and defines key terms like "essential community provider" to ensure consistent application. The bill affects contracted entities (including hospitals, clinics, and dental providers) by requiring faster reviews for urgent care and updating how they handle denied claims. It became law on May 25, 2025, without the governor's signature, and directly impacts how Medicaid providers obtain approval for covered services.
HB 1683 requires most health benefit plans in Oklahoma to cover contraceptive drugs (like pills, patches, or rings) without prior authorization. Specifically, plans must cover a three-month supply when a member first gets the drug, and a six-month supply for each subsequent refill - limiting members to one six-month supply per six-month period. The law excludes coverage for drugs intended to terminate existing pregnancies and allows smaller prescriptions if medically necessary. It applies to all plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after November 1, 2025, and does not affect vision insurance coverage (the title appears to contain an error).
HB 1600, now effective as law in Oklahoma since May 22, 2025, establishes 19 specific rights for all patients receiving medical care in the state, including respectful treatment, clear communication about treatment options, advance directive support, privacy, and visitor rights. It also outlines patient responsibilities, such as providing accurate health information and participating in care planning. The law requires hospitals to inform patients of these rights and their complaint processes, replacing prior guidelines with enforceable statutory standards. This bill directly affects every patient in Oklahoma healthcare facilities and all hospitals providing care under state law.
