April 24, 2021

The second floor deadline has passed and now we will go through conference committee and the budget process as session winds down.

It was a busy week for our priority issues as we pushed to get bills heard on each floor and worked against a few too. Here are the highlights:

• SB131 – This bill is headed back to the Senate for acceptance or rejection of House amendments. The amendments would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to establish an internal managed care program for Medicaid. This is designed stop the state from implementing privatized managed care while also making some reforms to the existing system.
• SB674 – payment parity for telehealth has passed the House floor and must return to the Senate for acceptance or rejection of House amendments.
• SB658 – is headed back to the Senate for acceptance or rejection of House amendments. This would require school districts to state on immunization materials that parents must provide either immunization records or an exemption form. It also outlines how residents can challenge a district mask mandate.
• SB516, which would allow physicians to supervise an unlimited number of PAs, will return to the Senate for acceptance or rejection of House amendments. The title is off the bill so it should go to conference.
• SB689, which would make changes to the health care authority’s MAC, was amended to include language regarding the state’s managed care contracts and the transportation provided to patients.

Bills that are now dead or dormant:

• HB2335 – vaccination rules – This is now dormant and was not heard on the Senate floor.
• HB2121 – would have added general surgery to the Physician Manpower Training Commission list of approved professions. This was not heard on the floor and remains dormant.
• SB548 – which would have prohibited providers from sending medical debt to collectors unless patients signed a good faith cost estimate prior to treatment. This bill was voted down on the House floor and is dead.
• HB2089 – tax credit for rural physicians. This was not heard on the Senate floor and is dormant.

Other bills on the way to the governor:

• HB2678 – will require insurance companies to count coupons for medication toward patients’ deductibles – governor signed
• SB128 – would require school districts to implement a seizure plan for a student when requested by parents – awaiting signature