HB 2782 creates a "Rate Preservation Fund" within Oklahoma's Health Care Authority to prevent cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates for healthcare providers when the state's federal Medicaid funding percentage decreases. The bill allows the Authority to use fund monies to maintain these rates and permits temporary transfers of up to one-third of the fund's balance to other Medicaid program accounts for cash flow needs - provided the funds are fully repaid to the preservation fund by year-end. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other Medicaid providers who rely on stable reimbursement rates. The law also declares an emergency to take immediate effect.
SB 176 requires health insurance plans to cover certain prescription drugs that were previously not included in standard coverage. It directly affects health insurance providers and policyholders by mandating this specific coverage for eligible medications. The key provision is a new requirement for all health benefit plans to include these designated prescriptions without prior authorization or excessive cost-sharing. The law became effective on May 29, 2025, after the Governor did not sign it.
SB 1141 allocates $100,000 from unallocated state general revenue funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for its existing statutory duties. The bill requires these specific funds to be used for mental health services without creating new programs or altering current service requirements. An emergency clause makes the law effective immediately upon passage, bypassing the typical governor's signature requirement. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, after being passed without gubernatorial action.
HB 2797 prohibits Oklahoma's Health Care Authority (OHCA) from using statistical methods like extrapolation to audit Medicaid home and community-based service claims, which could require providers to repay overpayments. It invalidates all past audits using these methods (January 2020-November 2025) and voids related repayment demands. The bill requires OHCA and the Department of Human Services to jointly develop new audit standards and provide training for providers by November 2027. It also mandates compliance with existing fraud reporting rules and updates audit responsibilities for Medicaid waiver programs.
HB 2793 allocates $8,000,000 from Oklahoma’s Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund to establish an Emergency Medicine Revolving Fund, as created by prior legislation (HB 2784). This fund will support ongoing emergency medical services, directly affecting hospitals and emergency care providers across the state. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025, and the bill declares an emergency to expedite implementation. The bill does not create new taxes or services but redirects existing state funds to this specific purpose.
SB 1140 allocates $100,000 from unspent state general revenue funds to Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for purposes already required by law. The bill directs the department to use these funds for its existing duties, without creating new programs or services. It includes an emergency provision allowing immediate implementation upon enactment, bypassing the usual waiting period. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, without the governor's signature. This is a procedural funding measure, not a substantive policy change.
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.
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 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.
