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.
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).
SB 697 establishes a new "medical marijuana transporter license" in Oklahoma, allowing specific entities - like licensed growers, processors, dispensaries, research facilities, and logistics companies - to legally transport medical marijuana products. It requires transporters to use a digital tracking system for all shipments, store products in secure facilities, and follow strict vehicle safety rules (including GPS tracking, locked containers, and driver-inaccessible storage). The bill also creates a separate "transporter agent" license for employees, requiring background checks and a $25 annual fee. These changes directly affect medical marijuana businesses, transporters, and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which will enforce the new rules. The bill aims to standardize and regulate transportation logistics within the state’s medical marijuana system.
SB 993 regulates how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) audit pharmacies in Oklahoma. It requires PBMs to provide 14 days' notice (30 days for wholesale audits) before audits, prohibits treating simple clerical errors (like typos or computer mistakes) as fraud, and bans recouping funds for such errors without proof of intentional fraud. The bill also mandates that if funds are recouped, pharmacies must refund patients first, and PBMs must conduct audits using licensed pharmacists for clinical judgments. This directly affects pharmacies and PBMs by setting clear standards for audit processes and preventing unfair financial penalties.
SB 518 requires medical marijuana businesses in Oklahoma to use specific warning labels on all products sold to licensed patients. The labels must include mandatory statements like "For use by licensed medical marijuana patients only," "Keep out of reach of children," and warnings about driving under influence and pregnancy risks, along with potency details (THC/cannabinoids) and contaminant testing information. The law prohibits child-targeted packaging (such as cartoon characters) and bans health benefit claims on product containers. It applies to all medical marijuana businesses and takes effect November 1, 2025, after becoming law without the governor's signature on May 21, 2025.
HB 1512 grants Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner authority to operate a state-based health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, including applying for federal waivers. It creates a dedicated "State-based Exchange Revolving Fund" to support the exchange's operations and requires the Commissioner to promulgate necessary rules. The bill directly affects Oklahomans purchasing health insurance through the state marketplace by enabling a state-run exchange option. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 15, 2025.
This Oklahoma bill establishes a maximum staffing ratio requiring retail pharmacies to maintain no more than five pharmacy technicians for every one licensed pharmacist. It also updates regulations for pharmacy technicians by mandating permits, setting a renewal fee of up to $75 annually, and outlining procedures for late renewals and permit reinstatement. The law applies to all licensed retail pharmacies in Oklahoma and takes effect on November 1, 2025.
SB 251 expands eligibility for Oklahoma county mental health and substance abuse funding to include employment, education, and housing programs alongside existing treatment services. It requires the state to allocate at least 0.5% of total funds to each county government or multi-county partnership applying for grants. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislative leaders detailing funding distribution and services provided. These changes aim to broaden community-based support options while ensuring minimum funding for all participating counties.
SB 253 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid agency (the Oklahoma Health Care Authority) to include specific funding details in its annual budget request. It mandates that the budget reflect new state and federal funding needed to cover the most recent audited costs for reimbursing nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities serving individuals with intellectual disabilities. The audited cost must be calculated using the latest cost report submitted to the agency. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.
