SB 1646 requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment without arbitrary limits, affecting all residents with such coverage. It mandates coverage for "core treatments" aligned with clinical standards (like those from psychiatric associations), prohibits limiting care to short-term/acute settings, and bans insurers from rescinding authorizations after services are provided. The bill also requires insurers to follow specific rules for reviewing treatment requests and ensures out-of-network care access when in-network options aren't available. This applies to all health benefit plans covering hospital or medical services in Oklahoma, aiming to align mental health coverage with physical health benefits. The bill is pending in committee as of February 2026.
SB 2014 designates ivermectin (for human use) as an over-the-counter medication in Oklahoma, allowing it to be sold without a prescription or pharmacist consultation. This bill directly affects pharmacies, pharmacists, and consumers who purchase this drug. The key provision removes the current requirement for a prescription or healthcare professional consultation for ivermectin, changing its legal status under state pharmacy law. The law takes effect on November 1, 2026.
SB 2179 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health to create a written individualized service plan for people found not guilty by reason of mental illness (NGRI/MI) within 45 days of their court adjudication. The plan must include treatment details, risk assessments, and service schedules, developed with the individual's input and based on a forensic psychological evaluation. Once approved by the court, the plan becomes part of the court's final order and must be reviewed quarterly for the first year, then semiannually, with updates provided to the court and parties. This bill directly affects NGRI/MI individuals, courts, mental health providers, and the Department of Mental Health by mandating structured treatment planning and oversight.
SB 202 modifies eligibility rules for self-funded health plans to participate in Oklahoma's Medicaid premium assistance program. It allows small businesses and public entities using self-funded health plans to qualify if the plan was already used by an employer in the program as of May 1, 2024, or if it’s owned by a local government public trust. This change specifically affects small employers (under 250 employees) and public-sector health plans seeking to access state premium assistance. The bill aims to expand coverage options for low-income workers by making more health plan types eligible for state-funded premium support.
SB 1328 modifies Oklahoma's Parents' Bill of Rights and medical treatment laws to strengthen parental involvement in minors' healthcare. It removes a prohibition on requiring healthcare providers to notify parents when a minor receives treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse - unless the minor is confirmed not to have these conditions. The bill clarifies that parents generally retain rights to access medical records and make healthcare decisions for their children, with limited exceptions (e.g., if a parent is under criminal investigation for abuse or in emergency situations). It directly affects parents, legal guardians, healthcare providers, and schools by changing notification requirements for specific medical services. The law aims to ensure parental awareness in minors' health care while maintaining existing emergency and confidentiality exceptions.
This bill changes Oklahoma Medicaid rules for autism treatment coverage. It requires a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder by specific licensed providers (like neurologists, developmental pediatricians, or psychologists) to qualify for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. The bill prohibits Medicaid from requiring re-diagnoses after an initial diagnosis and mandates in-person ABA services while allowing remote supervision via telehealth. It directly affects Oklahoma Medicaid recipients with autism spectrum disorder seeking ABA therapy.
This bill authorizes an emergency appropriation of approximately $19.66 million to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The funds must come from the Rate Preservation Fund in the State Treasury and are designated specifically for Title XIX services, which are Medicaid-funded mental health and substance abuse programs. The legislation includes an emergency provision, allowing the funding to take effect immediately upon the governor's approval without waiting for the regular budget cycle. This action provides direct financial resources to the state agency responsible for administering mental health and substance abuse services.
HB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma public schools to provide annual, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse and addiction prevention, local resource access, and health education about fentanyl use. Schools must incorporate this content into health classes, and the State Department of Education will develop curriculum standards and resources to support implementation. The law also designates a week for "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" to align with National Red Ribbon Week, with age-appropriate instruction determined by each school district.
SB 1837 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to seek a federal exemption allowing Medicaid providers in rural counties (population ≤60,000) to provide case management and develop person-centered plans for home- and community-based services. This directly affects rural healthcare providers who currently face restrictions under federal regulation 42 C.F.R. §441.301(c)(1)(vi). The bill mandates OHCA to establish conflict-of-interest protections for exempt providers, separating case management and provider functions within organizations. The exemption would permit these rural providers to deliver services without federal barriers, effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1953, the Employer Health Plan Transparency Act, requires group health plans and public employee health plans in Oklahoma to ensure contracts with health insurers and service providers include full access to medical records, billing details, and payment documentation. It prohibits contracts from limiting information sharing about patient care or costs, mandates HIPAA-compliant disclosures, and requires itemized cost breakdowns for covered services. This directly affects employers offering health benefits, insurers, and healthcare providers by standardizing data access and transparency in coverage arrangements. The law aims to improve clarity for plan participants regarding medical expenses and service coverage under Oklahoma's health insurance framework.
