Healthcare

passed both · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2025

HB 1816: Medicaid; out-of-state medical providers; term; effective date.

HB 1816 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to prioritize in-state medical providers for in-person care when local options are available, rather than contracting with out-of-state providers. It specifically applies to services requiring the patient's physical presence and direct provider care (excluding remote services like lab work). The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must seek federal approval to implement this change. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrioritizes in-state Medicaid providers for local care access, improving patient convenience and supporting local healthcare infrastructure without restricting coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 13, 2025

HB 1472: Health; Alzheimer's Dementia and Other Forms of Dementia Special Care Disclosure Act; type of care; penalties; misdemeanor; effective date.

HB 1472 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and similar care providers that advertise specialized dementia care to disclose specific details about their services. Facilities must submit a standardized form to Oklahoma's State Department of Health covering care philosophy, staffing ratios, resident activities, fees, and facility certifications. This information must be posted on the facility's website and made publicly available through a state-maintained online directory. Facilities falsely advertising dementia care without meeting these standards face civil penalties and misdemeanor charges. The law aims to ensure transparency for families considering care options for loved ones with dementia.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dementia care providers to disclose service details, enhancing transparency and consumer choice in healthcare decisions, aligning with patient rights protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2371: Schools; mental health; pilot programs; revolving fund; effective date.

HB 2371 proposes funding pilot programs for school districts to use AI software on school-issued devices as a safety tool, without direct student surveillance. The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Department of Education to fund AI programs that analyze device activity (via existing web filtering systems) to assess student safety, readiness to learn, and well-being, using data already collected for compliance. It creates a dedicated revolving fund in the state treasury to cover costs like software, equipment, and personnel for these voluntary pilot programs, which can be implemented at the district or school level. The bill would take effect November 1, 2025, if passed.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funds for AI safety pilot programs in schools, enhancing student well-being initiatives through existing infrastructure without direct surveillance.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates funding for AI programs assessing student well-being via school devices, directly supporting school-based mental health services under mental health departments.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds AI software pilot programs for school safety using existing web filtering systems, advancing technology use without direct surveillance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health Substance Abuse Artificial Intelligence

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passed both · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 202: Medicaid; modifying eligibility requirements for self-funded or self-insured health care plan to participate in certain premium assistance program. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid premium assistance eligibility for small businesses/public entities, increasing access to healthcare coverage under state program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1279: Income tax; creating the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act; providing deduction for certain expenditures. Effective date.

SB 1279, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act, allows Oklahoma taxpayers who are active members of qualifying health care sharing ministries to deduct membership and administrative fees and exclude from taxable income any payments received from the ministry for medical expenses. This applies to Oklahoma residents who maintained membership for at least one month during the tax year, starting in 2027. The bill defines a qualifying ministry as a not-for-profit organization facilitating voluntary medical cost sharing among members with shared ethical or religious beliefs, without insurance guarantees. Taxpayers must claim these benefits using forms prescribed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which will establish verification rules. The law takes effect for tax year 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax deduction for health care ministry expenses, reducing taxable income for qualifying residents, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax deductions for health care sharing ministry membership, expanding alternative coverage options and making healthcare access more affordable for residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SB 456: Abortion; creating the Abolition of Abortion Act; modifying applicability of provisions related to homicide and wrongful death. Emergency.

SB 456, the "Abolition of Abortion Act," would reclassify most abortion procedures as criminal homicide under Oklahoma law, defining "human being" to include unborn children and applying homicide statutes to abortion-related deaths. It exempts legal abortions with maternal consent, standard medical practices, life-saving procedures for the mother (with steps to save the fetus), and spontaneous miscarriages. The bill also modifies wrongful death claims to include unborn children and expands duress defenses for mothers who undergo abortions under threat. The bill failed in committee in February 2025 and would not take effect if passed, as it is currently pending legislative action.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies abortion as criminal homicide, expanding criminalization under homicide statutes, opposing criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by criminalizing most procedures under homicide laws, limiting healthcare services related to reproductive health.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Women's Health

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passed both · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 740: Child sexual abuse; creating the Cindy Clemishire Act; creating Trey's Law. Effective date.

SB 740 amends Oklahoma's mental health definitions to modernize terminology and clarify eligibility for care. It replaces outdated terms like "insane" and "mental disease" with "mental illness" throughout the law and defines key terms such as "person requiring treatment" (based on specific risk criteria like immediate harm to self/others) and "licensed mental health professional" (including psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors). The bill directly affects mental health facilities, providers, and individuals receiving care by standardizing how these terms are used in legal documents, admission processes, and treatment decisions. It does not create new services or funding but ensures consistent application of existing mental health laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes mental health definitions to clarify eligibility for care and expand access to licensed professionals, improving service delivery per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 441: Medicaid; requiring certain coverage of chiropractic care; granting additional protections. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 441 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to cover medically necessary chiropractic care provided by licensed chiropractors for diagnosing or treating illness/injury or improving bodily function. It prohibits Medicaid from denying coverage based on age and eliminates the need for prior authorization (approval before treatment) for such care. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who require chiropractic services, ensuring they can access this care without age-based barriers or extra administrative hurdles. The bill mandates these changes effective immediately upon enactment, with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority required to seek federal approval for the policy shift.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for medically necessary chiropractic care, removes age-based denials and prior authorization barriers, expanding access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 7, 2025

HB 1820: Poor persons; Act to Restore Hope, Opportunity, and Prosperity for Everyone; eligibility information; effective date.

HB 1820 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to verify specific eligibility information (like income, residency, employment, and immigration status) before approving benefits, excluding TEFRA-eligible applicants and individuals with intellectual disabilities in Home and Community Based Waivers. It mandates quarterly reviews of enrolled Medicaid recipients for changes in circumstances and establishes a 10-business-day window for applicants to respond to discrepancies. The law directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to contract with independent vendors that demonstrate cost savings and to use data-sharing agreements with state agencies. This bill directly affects Medicaid applicants and recipients in Oklahoma by tightening eligibility verification processes, while exempting certain vulnerable groups from these requirements.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareAdds strict eligibility verification, excludes vulnerable groups (intellectual disabilities in waivers), and mandates frequent reviews, restricting Medicaid access and coverage.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationVerifies immigration status for Medicaid eligibility, restricting access for non-citizens not in exempt categories (TEFRA/Intellectual Disability Waivers).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1842: Workers' compensation; mental health-related injuries; first responders; service weapon; CLEET certification; effective date.

HB 1842 modifies Oklahoma's workers' compensation rules for mental health injuries affecting first responders. It removes the requirement for a physical injury to claim PTSD-related compensation for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs responding to emergencies. The bill limits mental injury disability benefits to 52 weeks (with 26 weeks for initial coverage), caps medical treatment costs at $10,000, and requires employers to suspend CLEET certification and collect service weapons during disability. This directly affects full-time and volunteer first responders whose mental health conditions arise from emergency response duties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves physical injury barrier for PTSD claims, expanding mental health coverage access for first responders under workers' comp; caps are administrative, not restrictive of coverage.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves physical injury requirement for PTSD compensation, expanding mental health benefits for first responders under workers' comp.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Professional Licensing Workers' Compensation

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