Healthcare (Mental Health)

vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 2513: Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; individual to address the Department's consent decree; qualifications; emergency.

HB 2513, titled the "Oklahoma Mental Health Reform Act of 2025," proposed creating a position requiring an individual with specific qualifications to address the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' court-ordered consent decree. The bill specified requirements for this appointee and included an emergency provision. It was scheduled to take effect November 1, 2025, but was pocket-vetoed by the Governor on May 30, 2025, with the veto taking effect June 15, 2025, meaning it never became law. The bill directly affected the Department's compliance with its existing legal agreement but was not enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates position to address mental health consent decree, aiming to improve service compliance and quality under healthcare topic of mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed both · Oklahoma · House Mar 5, 2025

HCR 1004: Concurrent resolution; consent decree; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Forensic Center, and the putative class; approval.

HCR 1004 is a procedural resolution approving a consent decree resolving a class-action lawsuit against Oklahoma's mental health system. It formally authorizes the Oklahoma Legislature to adopt the court-approved settlement between the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Forensic Center, and a group of individuals alleging inadequate competency restoration treatment for people found incompetent to stand trial. The decree resolves claims about delays in providing required treatment to ensure court competency, avoiding further litigation costs. This resolution does not create new policy but legally ratifies an existing court agreement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeApproves consent decree resolving inadequate competency restoration treatment delays in criminal justice system, advancing mental health care for defendants95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareApproves consent decree resolving mental health treatment delays, mandating improved competency restoration services for vulnerable patients per court settlement.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 2947: Behavioral health; terms; Medicaid; scope of practice; interns; administrative requirements; effective date.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for behavioral health interns, enabling supervised services and improving mental health access under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1115: Medicaid; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; mental health; children; effective date.

HB 1115 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to increase payment rates for mental health services provided to children 19 years of age or younger by 30%. This change directly affects mental health providers who serve Medicaid-eligible children under 19 by raising the reimbursement they receive for these services. The bill mandates a specific 30% rate increase for covered mental health services, without altering eligibility criteria. The policy becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for children's mental health services by 30%, directly funding and strengthening provider access to care under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1589: School employees; Education Employee Assistant Program; Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; effective date; emergency.

HB 1589 creates a voluntary Education Employee Assistance Program within Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The program provides school employees and their families with confidential support for personal, mental health, or substance abuse issues - including emotional, financial, or family concerns - without impacting their employment status. Key provisions include keeping participation records separate from personnel files, prohibiting subpoenas for records unless a safety threat exists, and requiring school districts to follow Board-established rules for any existing or new employee assistance programs. The bill explicitly states that participation or nonparticipation does not affect disciplinary actions or employment terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides confidential mental health support for school employees, strengthening educator well-being and retention without employment impact.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates voluntary mental health/substance abuse support program for school employees, expanding access to mental health services without employment impact.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides confidential mental health support for school employees without employment impact, aligning with worker well-being protections under labor & employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1042: Sunset; Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board; extending sunset year.

HB 1042 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, under the state's Sunset Law. The board, created within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, reviews opioid overdose deaths (for individuals 18+) to analyze causes, coordinate prevention efforts, and make system improvement recommendations to medical and law enforcement agencies. This procedural bill does not alter the board's existing duties - such as data collection, confidential case reviews, or annual reporting - but ensures its continued operation for one additional year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends oversight board analyzing opioid deaths to improve prevention and coordination with law enforcement, supporting systemic reform through data-driven prevention efforts.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends opioid overdose fatality review board, maintaining public health prevention efforts under mental health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 496: Governmental Tort Claims Act; modifying definition. Effective date.

SB 496 amends Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act by clarifying key definitions in Section 152. It specifically defines "charitable health care provider" as entities offering free care to medically indigent patients and expands "community health care provider" to include those working with federally qualified health centers or pending applications. The bill also broadens "employee" to explicitly include certain healthcare professionals (like administrative physicians, resident doctors, and mental health staff) under state contracts. These changes directly affect healthcare providers, state agencies, and individuals filing tort claims against the state or political subdivisions. The amendment aims to clarify eligibility under the tort claims process without altering core legal procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands definitions to include indigent care providers and FQHCs, improving access for underserved populations under tort claims protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 8, 2025

HB 2049: Medicaid parity; coverage; mental health and substance use disorders; contract compliance; noncompliance reviews; Oklahoma Health Care Authority; complaints; publication of reports; effective date.

HB 2049 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid managed care plans to comply with federal parity laws for mental health and substance use disorder coverage. It mandates regular compliance checks on nonquantitative treatment limitations (like prior authorization), creates a standardized process for handling parity complaints, and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to publicly report on compliance. The law directly affects Medicaid managed care plans, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking mental health or substance use services. Key provisions include contract requirements for parity analysis, public disclosure of compliance reports, and a 30-day deadline for publishing federal reports. The bill became effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid plans to comply with federal parity laws for mental health/substance use coverage, strengthening patient access and rights under Medicaid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 1036: Ambulance service; requiring coverage for certain services. Effective date.

SB 1036, the "Oklahoma Triage, Treat, and Transport to Alternative Destination Act," requires health insurers in Oklahoma to cover specific ambulance services starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for ambulance providers treating patients in place, triaging/treating/transporting to lower-acuity facilities (like urgent care or mental health centers), or for encounters resulting in no transport. This affects insurers, ambulance services, and people covered by health insurance plans. The law excludes hospitals, dialysis centers, and residential settings from "alternative destinations" and sets minimum reimbursement rates for ambulance services. It applies to all new or renewed health insurance contracts on or after the effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for non-transport ambulance services including mental health centers, expanding access to lower-acuity care without hospital transport.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1397: Telemedicine for mental health; consent for medical treatment of minor; exceptions; penalties for violations; effective date.

HB 1397 requires written parental or guardian consent for most medical treatments, including prescriptions and surgeries, for minors under Oklahoma law. It specifically allows schools to use school-year consent for telemedicine mental health services at school sites without requiring parents to be present during the session. The bill exempts emergency care and abortions (which follow separate abortion laws), and violations carry misdemeanor penalties. This directly affects minors, parents/guardians, schools, and healthcare providers offering telemedicine services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly creates exception for school-based telemedicine mental health services without requiring parental presence during sessions, improving minor access to mental healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Telehealth Women's Health

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