HB 2947 adds a new provider code in Oklahoma Medicaid for master's and doctoral-level behavioral health clinical interns. These interns - graduate students in nationally accredited programs - can provide services under the direct supervision of licensed behavioral health providers (like LPCs or LCSWs) while following all Medicaid documentation and training requirements. The bill directly affects interns seeking practical experience and licensed supervisors who will oversee their Medicaid-covered services. It expands Medicaid access to behavioral health care by formalizing intern participation in the state's Medicaid plan.
HB 3345 requires mandatory mental health, substance abuse, and risk screenings for individuals arrested on felony charges in Oklahoma after their initial court appearance. These screenings, conducted by certified professionals from the Department of Mental Health, must be shared with courts, prosecutors, defendants, and their attorneys. Results cannot be used as evidence in criminal trials unless the defendant waives this right, but may inform sentencing or diversion options. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3645 amends Oklahoma's hospice care requirements to expand eligibility determination options when patients lack legal representatives. It allows hospice admission decisions by a licensed long-term care administrator (with 6 months oversight and two physician approvals), two physicians reviewing medical history, or a primary care physician managing care for six months. The bill maintains existing standards like 24/7 care, bereavement programs, and prohibitions on improper patient solicitation. It directly affects hospice providers and patients without appointed guardians, ensuring timely access to hospice services under defined criteria.
SB 2074 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to accept all documentation from pharmacies when challenging reimbursement amounts and include specific details in appeal requests. If an appeal is approved, PBMs must adjust payments within 14 days and provide claim-level details. The bill applies to all PBMs working with Oklahoma pharmacies and covers disputes over reimbursement rates for prescription drugs. It aims to streamline the appeals process and prevent delays in payments to pharmacies.
HB 2361, the "Successful Adulthood Act," requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to provide foster youth aged 14 and older with a "Notice of Rights" explaining their legal protections. It mandates that youth transitioning out of foster care at age 18 receive essential documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, medical records, and educational transcripts, to support independent living. The bill extends eligibility for transition services, including housing, education, and Medicaid coverage, until age 21 for those in foster care due to abuse or neglect. It also requires the Department to provide information about college financial aid programs to foster youth and their guardians. These provisions aim to improve stability and self-sufficiency for young adults aging out of foster care.
HB 3901 establishes a pilot program for psychological autopsies in Oklahoma, which investigate ambiguous deaths (like suicides) to reconstruct a deceased person's mental state and influences. The Commissioner of Health must appoint a full-time psychological autopsy examiner who will submit annual progress reports and coordinate with mental health and medical examiner offices. The pilot runs until November 1, 2031, with a recommendation for permanency or termination. Its goal is to use data from these reviews to inform suicide prevention efforts, without changing existing laws or creating new obligations for individuals.
HB 3904 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to reimburse specific maternal health services for pregnant and postpartum women. It changes payment rules to separately cover prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care (instead of bundled payments), implements immediate presumptive eligibility for prenatal care, and adds reimbursement for depression screening, self-measured blood pressure monitoring, remote ultrasounds, and doula/community health worker services. The bill directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to adopt implementing rules and seek federal approvals, effective November 1, 2026. It directly affects Medicaid-covered pregnant and postpartum individuals in Oklahoma by expanding access to targeted health services.
HB 3194 protects Oklahoma pregnancy centers from state mandates requiring them to provide abortion services, contraception, or referrals. The bill prohibits state agencies from forcing centers to offer abortion-inducing drugs, post promotional materials for abortion, restrict services based on their pro-life stance, or interfere with their staffing decisions. It also allows centers to sue for triple damages (minimum $10,000) if state agencies violate these provisions. The law directly affects pregnancy centers - both general and medical - and state agencies that might attempt to impose such requirements. It focuses on preventing government compulsion, not restricting abortion access.
HB 2834 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to cover 96% of Medicare's payment rates for in-home physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. This directly affects Oklahoma Medicaid recipients needing these specific therapies by ensuring providers receive a standardized reimbursement rate. The bill sets a new reimbursement standard for these services, effective July 1, 2025, rather than expanding eligibility. It passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives with 64-25 support but did not secure emergency status.
HB 3130 prohibits Oklahoma state agencies, contractors, and public institutions from using state funds for gender transition procedures for minors, including allocation, referral, or contracting with providers offering such care. It also protects parents' rights by stating that withholding consent for gender transition procedures does not constitute child abuse or grounds for losing custody. The bill amends medical licensure laws to classify aiding or abetting gender transition procedures as unprofessional conduct, subjecting medical professionals to disciplinary action by licensing boards. These provisions apply directly to state-funded healthcare providers, minors receiving medical care, and licensed physicians or medical staff.
