State Legislative Update: Provider rate floor heads to House floor

Posted on: 4/19/24

Despite ongoing budgetary disagreements between the House and Senate, both appropriations committees met this week. 

The House Appropriations and Budget Committee took up SB 1675 (Sen. Greg McCortney/ Rep. Marcus McEntire), which extends the healthcare provider rate floor in the SoonerSelect program. An extension of the rate floor protects all healthcare providers from arbitrary rate cuts by the contracted SoonerSelect health plans. By statute, the rate floor is set to expire on July 1, 2026. 

Another provision of the bill ensures competition in the marketplace by requiring a provider-owned organization to be awarded a contract during the next procurement cycle for SoonerSelect. This mirrors legislative intent when the bill authorizing SoonerSelect was passed in 2022. Due to member advocacy efforts, the bill passed out of the committee 31 to 0. 

Senate Appropriations met Thursday and heard HB 3190. The bill reforms the prior authorization process and contains provisions that closely mirror a finalized rule to improve the prior authorization process within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The bill passed out of committee with a vote of 12 to 0. 

State funding for the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC) is in limbo as budget negotiators continue to meet. While funding for OPQIC appears in the Senate’s proposed budget, it does not appear in the House. OHA continues to advocate for its inclusion in the state budget.  (Scott Tohlen)