State legislative update

Posted on: 5/7/21

We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday, May 11, as we work the Capitol to stop managed care (see related Hotline article). Please continue to ask your senators to hear and vote yes on SB 131. Your advocacy is more important than ever as we get closer to the end of session on May 28. 

SB 674 by Sen. Greg McCortney and Rep. Marcus McEntire was signed by the governor on Wednesday giving telehealth parity to all providers. Oklahoma is now one of about 10 states with full telehealth parity on the books. OHA was part of a larger coalition that worked toward its successful passage.  

HB 1006 by Rep. Carol Bush and Sen. Adam Pugh was also signed by the governor this week. Known as the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act, the bill requires health care providers, groups, and facilities to make cash prices for their most commonly provided services available to consumers either electronically or on their website. The bill is similar to regulations hospitals already follow. 

The No Patient Left Alone Act, HB 2687 by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck and Sen. Michael Bergstrom, was signed by the governor on Monday. OHA worked collaboratively with the bill authors regarding hospital visitation policies. The bill came in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Scott Tohlen)