[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6303272,"mediaKeyId","2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4","parentId",2473500,"title","Committee roundup: health‑care bills cleared, laid over or defeated","audioSeconds",2647,"startMs",740000,"endMs",3387000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4&start=740&end=3387","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4/thumbnail_740000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303272/Oklahoma/Committee-roundup-healthcare-bills-cleared-laid-over-or-defeated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303272-a0e04f0e65f33418346a8760fc653459/orig.mp4?Expires=1775877899&Signature=JIWfUYCFQ8GIVUXn5DWdGsZPH9Qjp7mSZR9a7emi9sCymvw0RNJGuMP2RzuYoiLM5Qb5AFI9XH6BpdTKuxR7yNbDUNDTb4IcEZ5Rqxij8r1UnyaT1PRvSp03A7oOS4n5nu8R7EcM3mVpOCRa0A4cm2NZUc2HToPGRGfOX3MQjHWgthzErRNHDeJJWCXfF~DBujmqPgUaikxXYGsldwZnA45tOZxMLmFd3EUwA~sn9LR-jhymJiTJCgcEZdjqAdQvBY1-cy4JumzIx5BMiQNJaKzZb19LLqdlDs7SWapKPgIpxK97d0H3upXQDMdZ61ZH6XS~vXG5wTPUzCeVqL4jWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","OK State Legislature","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard and acted on a series of health‑care bills. Below are the committee outcomes and the key details provided in committee. Where the committee record did not provide a full roll call for each yea/nay vote, the clerk’s announced tally is reported.

- Senate Bill 6 70 / 6 72: Presented as a bill on integrated behavioral health, continuing education and patient screening in primary care settings. The committee record showed a final announcement of \"8 ayes, 2 nays\" and the chair declared the bill passed. (Transcript note: sponsor presented as \"Senate Bill 6 70\"; chair later declared \"Senate bill 6 72\" passed.)

- Senate Bill 7 41: Authorizes pharmacists under standing orders from physicians or county/local health‑department medical directors to test and initiate drug therapy for defined minor, nonchronic conditions; committee passed 10 ayes, 1 nay. Sponsor asked to strike the title and continue technical drafting on screeners and protocol language.

- Senate Bill 4 24: Establishes voluntary certification for community health workers (described by sponsor as a certification achievable after 1,000 hours of on‑the‑job experience and supervisor recommendation); passed 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 8 89: Seeks to codify federal hospital price‑transparency rules into state statute to expand enforcement beyond the limited 2021 statute (HB 1006) that applied to top services and cash pricing; sponsor cited enforcement gaps and named several other states with similar statutes; passed 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 10 79: Laid over at the request of the author (no committee action taken).

- Senate Bill 2 53: Concerns nursing facilities and annual budget requests (presented as continuing a voluntary practice from prior sessions); passed 11 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 7 61 (Lori Brand Patient Bill of Rights Act): Establishes patient‑and‑family engagement principles and expectations for hospitals; sponsor said the bill mirrors federal provisions in part and that he has been working with hospitals and the hospital association; passed 9 ayes, 2 nays.

- Senate Bill 9 59: Conscience‑protection measure for health‑care professionals and institutions; after extended questioning the committee voted 5 ayes, 7 nays and the bill failed.

- Senate Bill 9 06: Amended to permit up to a 4:1 pharmacy technician‑to‑pharmacist ratio after a compromise with the pharmacy association; passed 8 ayes, 4 nays.

- Senate Bill 4 9 49 (cleanup bill): Technical cleanup moving language from DHS to the Department of Health related to protections for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; passed 12 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 10 67: Sets a minimal allowable reimbursement for out‑of‑network ambulance services and creates a database to publish contracted rates; passed 10 ayes, 2 nays.

The committee adjourned and will begin considering house bills at its next meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health and Human Services Mar 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced multiple health‑care bills on votes ranging from unanimous to closely contested, laid one bill over and defeated another; this roundup lists each item, committee action and key details from authors’ summaries.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature OK, Oklahoma","taxId",78380,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303275,"Committee advances bill to set minimum out‑of‑network ambulance reimbursement and create database",268,3096000,3364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4&start=3096&end=3364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4/thumbnail_3096000.jpg","/articles/6303275/Oklahoma/Committee-advances-bill-to-set-minimum-outofnetwork-ambulance-reimbursement-and-create-database","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303275-d313004beaba0e8cd62850ef6d5623be/orig.mp4?Expires=1775877899&Signature=htf-ws-1ZQ0-6~WgqCqmi3jDHko11qCRh1UDcSDHi1m~LPeGJQDMYduL8peuu8BMXDOy1zK8Jte68m3BB2Nt0AHiPShkpshU2-Hk2V-GZ4lQjGEodFCyEtXah54NbchaT7-pEhuEMJYLZfjabpdiNEJgaS6risL6Bje0RhVbFu3T-K9CKm7mLhp2riF1M4uZs3cOiuVcmLBz2YU0Bc~RSxVbrTGI0jUHcW7B1Ixy5ly1Kh1munE-QTFtzf-v7-sBsZ1uYaPDgFUyZfajRMIeEXijlepDpW~~T9tticaVGlEMdsN~jszLJgS5m1Xr6N~-Bsq8hfoFOkV6sPU9jQcx-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Rosino presented Senate Bill 10 67, describing the measure as an attempt to resolve disputes between ambulance providers and insurers over out‑of‑network reimbursement rates. The sponsor said the bill provides a minimal allowable reimbursement rate and establishes a database to publish contracted rates, citing problems that arose when the statute went into effect Jan. 1 but there was no central database for contracted rates.

The sponsor said negotiations with insurers and providers produced little agreement and that the bill represents a compromise. He said Medicaid had previously set a rate at $325 and that the bill would set an adjusted figure of $275 while creating the database; he acknowledged providers wanted more but said the database is a priority so municipalities can determine proper payment when contracts are not readily accessible.

Committee members asked how the bill would affect already‑signed contracts; the sponsor said insurers requested a Jan. 1 effective date because plans change at the calendar year and that the database is intended to address municipalities’ inability to access contracted rates. The sponsor characterized the projected premium impact as small (\"anywhere approximately from $3 to $5 a month\" on average across insured individuals).

After debate the committee voted 10 ayes and 2 nays and the chair declared Senate Bill 10 67 passed. The sponsor said he had worked extensively with both insurers and providers and that the bill represents a compromise that will increase ambulance payments relative to current levels while providing transparency.

","Senate Bill 10 67, which sets an allowable reimbursement rate for out‑of‑network ambulance services and calls for a database to publish contracted rates, cleared committee 10‑2 after the sponsor said the measure addresses an absence of data municipalities need to pay providers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303281,"Conscience‑protection bill for health workers fails in committee after contested debate",670,2010000,2680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4&start=2010&end=2680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4/thumbnail_2010000.jpg","/articles/6303281/Oklahoma/Conscienceprotection-bill-for-health-workers-fails-in-committee-after-contested-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303281-e87671aed9c79f6ba409102e34597837/orig.mp4?Expires=1775877899&Signature=Vi9r3uKMSH9fuW3YrmBXvN~YWUamp0a~lLXJBCWtm9YxcOlojveLrdIaLS0kuWIXBF4Z2QTZUY4xX53Jx0b7WXWB78Mj0qEefMs1NSdhwQc2v~z8pE6psGBZ3jJDmg8cliTxF9PwP5TVqkVtxiGx5PBIi6pXKraEPM6iYWW3KO89sR-rTUoNoRsUlAAp7kSkwRD~4k~Y3cw6iEzbKJrDKmtF9BNS56zXSC~v61VSuKYJtKqjkPZx-5b6BKpCU88cd3oa7rQTbua5R4pjecNjlIGH8GSaBOPOnbE05Sv8rjbjbUO9La3N97Xfk4vWahceAGoThjuzwr7bRVHUIHRBiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator McIntosh introduced Senate Bill 9 59, which the sponsor described as protecting the \"deeply held religious and ethical conscience rights of health care professionals\" and allowing them to decline to perform nonemergent elective procedures that conflict with their beliefs. The sponsor said the bill seeks to put into statute protections akin to guidance in professional codes of ethics.

Committee members asked detailed questions about the bill’s language and potential effects. Senator Hicks asked where the bill’s definition of discrimination came from; the sponsor said he drew language from multiple bills and current statute. Senators pressed whether the bill would allow institutions to refuse procedures (the sponsor said a religious institution could decline to perform procedures consistent with its beliefs and asserted that \"over 60% of the hospital beds in our state\" are in religious institutions). Senator Reinhart asked whether insurers could use the bill to deny covered claims; the sponsor replied insurers already disclose coverage in their plan materials.

Senator Stanridge asked whether the bill aligned with generally accepted medical ethics; the sponsor cited the AMA Code of Medical Ethics and read from it, saying physicians should have latitude to act in accordance with conscience. Committee members probed examples the sponsor offered—such as gene therapy on fetuses or chimeric research—and whether access for unmarried patients with sexually transmitted diseases could be affected; the sponsor answered affirmatively in examples but said institutional religious beliefs can currently limit services.

The sponsor acknowledged the bill had supporters in religious legal groups; he asked an outside attorney to be available to answer technical questions. Several senators voiced concern about the bill’s effect on patient access and whether payers might deny coverage. At the end of debate, the clerk recorded 5 ayes and 7 nays and the chair declared Senate Bill 9 59 failed.

","Senate Bill 9 59, which would have codified protections allowing health‑care professionals and religious institutions to decline certain nonemergency elective procedures on conscience grounds, failed in committee 5‑7 after lengthy questioning about definitions, patient access, and insurer effects.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303285,"Committee approves bill to relax pharmacy technician ratio to 4:1 after amendment",337,2696000,3033000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4&start=2696&end=3033","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4/thumbnail_2696000.jpg","/articles/6303285/Oklahoma/Committee-approves-bill-to-relax-pharmacy-technician-ratio-to-41-after-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303285-37a37e4509d51a87878bb093c38dbe8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775877899&Signature=MCICn3MMDfJNHp4k~Ai2bpwCYvXhBghcI~cJQz7DcfhjUs~zV4G95r51VhzxKyMGfEmGl~i1IQYZriRcEJFNLBk8Ef3snWXqy-eLcFQZJPdrjcxYoQxxRRSeZvVyZHFO3QYINws0iRlASpD8ZYCtwojSVHT2p3S97iYAneRRk7qS7oCEGZupUH4KESW~K5H0DG14h4Bn0OcGpVUl6Sfv9gH1OysLTl~G3wHu8MkqZyyqwqF5ftEdhPPIsxLBvsQ2U9Ua9gKNNja7jtiRhhqF8WS13t4FT4AsiTWobA8cX3wL8leYiXZuUbLo2dS0YrOxO-EOgNNOEC3~YW-JIgRfcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Rosino explained Senate Bill 9 06, which changes the permitted pharmacy technician‑to‑pharmacist ratio to allow up to four technicians per pharmacist. An amendment reducing an initial proposal to a 4:1 ratio was distributed and adopted after the sponsor said a compromise was reached with the pharmacy association.

Supporters argued the change is voluntary and intended to keep pharmacies open and staffed—particularly in rural areas. \"We are not serving rural Oklahoma\" was a refrain from the sponsor, who said more pharmacies are needed and that relaxed ratios have been adopted in other states. He noted the change does not force any pharmacy to alter its own ratio.

Opponents, including at least one pharmacist speaking in committee, warned the measure could reduce pharmacist time for medication counseling and clinical review. \"Crippling the pharmacy by having the pharmacist in the back checking more prescriptions ... is a decrease in pharmaceutical care,\" an opposing senator and pharmacist said, urging a no vote and arguing that profit motives could drive staffing decisions.

Questions from committee members focused on whether pharmacies already hire administrative staff, whether technicians are being used for nontechnical administrative tasks, and how the change would affect patient safety and pharmacist workload. The sponsor said administrative staff hiring is currently not limited and that technicians sometimes perform administrative tasks, but the bill addresses technician ratios specifically.

The amendment passed by voice vote; on final tally the committee recorded 8 ayes and 4 nays and the chair declared the amended bill passed. The sponsor said the change is optional for pharmacies and intended to improve access, especially on weekends and in small towns.

","Senate Bill 9 06, amended to allow a pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio of up to 4:1, cleared committee after debate about effects on pharmacist workload and rural access; proponents said change is voluntary and intended to address pharmacy closures in rural areas; opponents warned about reduced pharmacist‑patient counseling time.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303289,"Senate passes bill to allow pharmacists to test and start treatment for minor acute conditions",548,868000,1416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4&start=868&end=1416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473500-6a5467606ba76c0629a420695fa4d7b4/thumbnail_868000.jpg","/articles/6303289/Oklahoma/Senate-passes-bill-to-allow-pharmacists-to-test-and-start-treatment-for-minor-acute-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303289-163db827cb108c1b1c8b7118a2dee8c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775877899&Signature=BKDTxHfuEzMOPS7xiV1tmnL~1nqlsrsTW5qqTIvkvxUXUOBS5yxyJr8N8UIhbbXXxq-App0osHDjb4F2L6PY1ydOkBDKIsVKYsdN9rc5hoFc0kh3k3k3F3vHp0M4mqfAbfd1RUc0MAOKCJfAzPFcXZvr6LSex4xI~0kz2mVv-NtlacALnw2AhmjvLAUbzpozppFMUfZ4gnIqrOg-NVj158Saz1jAQqbcMfZAIhO2ERq7flZcP42hIFGoYLhZGf9stevClCdY~XBbqRlia5ilU6s3qNt8p06oc03gTL9IiRbFkru4RUqyxsFDr99k-ye~qIkl-8~MmCrhVzXVbzfuPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Galahara presented Senate Bill 7 41 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, saying the bill is part of a package aimed at supporting small‑town pharmacies and improving access to care in medically underserved rural Oklahoma. He said the bill would authorize a pharmacist operating under a standing order from a physician or a county or local health‑department medical director to test or screen for and initiate drug therapy for minor, nonchronic health conditions.

The measure matters because many rural communities lack primary‑care providers but do have pharmacies that could provide initial treatment, proponents said. \"Many rural Oklahoma counties are medically underserved,\" Senator Galahara said, asking the committee for an opportunity to continue improving the bill’s language and protocols.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on safeguards. Senator McIntosh asked whether the bill had been discussed with groups representing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians and whether an extra screening requirement at every visit was contemplated. Senator Galahara acknowledged concern the draft was “too broadly written” and said he had been consulting with both sides, including doctors, pharmacists and the osteopathic council, and that he was \"trying to be extremely careful\" to avoid harm and to put patient well‑being first. Senator Doss asked who would issue the standing orders; Galahara responded that a standing order would come from a physician or the medical director of a county or local health department and would include clinical protocols for the covered conditions.

Supporters said the bill aims to allow pharmacists to provide timely initial treatment for simple acute conditions—examples cited by the author included head lice and poison ivy—where full physician access is not available locally. The author and the chair stressed the bill is a \"work in progress\" and that the sponsor asked to strike the title and continue refining screening and protocol language before floor action.

The committee voted to pass the bill. The clerk recorded 10 ayes and 1 nay, and the chair declared Senate Bill 7 41 passed. The author said he will continue working with stakeholders to refine the bill’s language and protocols.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded 10 ayes and 1 nay on SB 7 41. The roll call list was read aloud; a full, named yea/nay roll was not included in the committee record excerpt.

What’s next: The author intends further negotiations on screening language and standing‑order protocols before the bill moves to the floor.

","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved Senate Bill 7 41 to let pharmacists, working under standing orders from physicians or local health‑department medical directors, test for and initiate drug therapy for certain minor, nonchronic conditions; author says measure targets rural access concerns and will be revised further.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee roundup: health‑care bills cleared, laid over or defeated

Committee advances bill to set minimum out‑of‑network ambulance reimbursement and create database

Conscience‑protection bill for health workers fails in committee after contested debate

Committee approves bill to relax pharmacy technician ratio to 4:1 after amendment

Senate passes bill to allow pharmacists to test and start treatment for minor acute conditions