OHA watching bills of interest at the state Capitol as session progresses
Posted on: 4/4/18
Thursday, March 15 was the deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be considered in their chamber of origin. The deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be heard in an opposite chamber’s committee is April 12 in the Senate and April 19 in the House. The next floor deadline, by which Senate bills need to be heard by the full House and House bills need to be considered by the full Senate, is April 26. Following is the status of active legislation of interest to OHA:
Bills supported by OHA:
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SB 1103, Yen/McEntire, 3D Mammograms covered by state health plans – to House, assigned to Rules Committee.
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SB 1353, Yen/Dunnington, allows persons who have graduated from medical school to use their medical education while awaiting a residency – to House, assigned to Public Health Committee.
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HB 1022XX, David/Wallace, appropriates $31.8 million for FY2018, the current fiscal year, and $110.0 million for FY2019 to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to pay costs associated with the state’s medical school programs – signed by governor, March 5.
Bills opposed by OHA:
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SB 890, Brecheen/Roberts, creates the Oklahoma Health Care Cost Reduction and Transparency Act – to House, laid over in House Public Health Committee March 27.
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SB 1030, Brecheen/Roberts, authorizes OHCA to seek a Medicaid waiver to reduce eligibility for parent/caretaker from 40 percent to 20 percent of the federal poverty level. To House, assigned to Appropriations & Budget Committee.
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SB 1174, David/Mulready, waives licensing fees for low-income individuals and initial licensing fees for military and young workers; freezes local licensing regulations and prohibits political subdivisions from passing more stringent regulations in the future; caps existing licensing fees at $25; and, has $6 million fiscal impact just from four of the medical licensure boards – to House, assigned to Banking & Business Committee.
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SB 1329, Scott/Teague, establishes licensure for radiologic technicians under the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision – to House, assigned to Banking & Business Committee.
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SB 1546, David/Moore, Right to Shop, requires health plans to implement a program that provides incentives for enrollees who elect to receive comparable health care service from providers charging less than the average allowed amount paid to network providers – to House, assigned to Rules Committee.
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SJR 45, Fields/Calvey, proposes a vote of the people to change the Oklahoma Constitution to allow earnings from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (TSET) to be used to fund the Oklahoma Medicaid program – to House, assigned to Rules Committee.
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SJR 61, David/Wallace, proposes a vote of the people to reduce the threshold of votes required to enact a sales tax revenue-raising measure from three-fourths to three-fifths, except for tobacco, which remains at three-fourths of each chamber – to House, assigned to Rules Committee.
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HB 3036, Lepak/Treat, provides for appointment of Commissioner of Health by governor; makes Board of Health advisory – to Senate, passed Health & Human Services Committee 5-5, assigned to Appropriations & Budget Committee.
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HB 3447, Calvey/Treat, prohibits reimbursement for five years through Medicaid or other federal or state program for providers found guilty of failing to report statutory rape – to Senate, assigned to Health & Human Services Committee and Appropriations & Budget Committee.
Bills monitored by OHA:
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SB 1446, Sykes/Derby, provides for e-prescribing for opioids; OHA has concerns that seven-day drug supply is too short – to House, assigned to Judiciary Committee.
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SB 1475, Pugh/Osburn, creates the Occupational Licensing Review Commission to review current occupational and professional licensure requirements – to House, assigned to Appropriations & Budget Committee.
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SB 1516, Griffin/Wright, amended in House committee to require the Board of Health to request from a hospital verification of compliance with the Lay Care Giver Act – to House, passed House Public Health Committee. OHA has withdrawn opposition.
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HB 2894, Taylor/Quinn, requires all licensure boards to delineate crimes for moral turpitude; providing for five years look back – to Senate, assigned to Business & Commerce Committee.
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HB 2931, Mulready/Griffin, e-prescribing of opioids – to Senate, assigned to Health & Human Services Committee.
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HB 2933, Mulready/David, waives licensing fees for one year for low-income applicants defined as those who are on a federal assistance program (i.e. TANF, Medicaid, SNAP) or those whose household incomes fall below 140 percent FPL ($34,440 for family of four) – to Senate, assigned to Business & Commerce Committee.
(Lynne White)