Committee advances package: prosthetics accountability, PBM reforms and consumer-protection bills
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Summary
The Business and Insurance Committee cleared multiple bills, including a prosthetics-contracts accountability bill and several PBM reforms and consumer-protection measures. Votes ranged from unanimous approvals to narrow 7-2 margins on some items.
The Oklahoma Senate Business and Insurance Committee on Monday moved a package of bills out of committee spanning prosthetics accountability, PBM reforms and consumer protections for short-term rentals.
Key outcomes (committee votes and brief descriptions):
- Senate Bill 1673 — Prosthetic Access and Accountability Act of 2026: Author Senator McIntosh said the bill does not mandate new coverage but requires health benefit plans that already cover prosthetic benefits to honor contracts fairly and without disability-based discrimination. Passed 8-0.
- Senate Bill 1500 — PBM prompt payments: Senator Yek said the bill would require PBMs to pay pharmacy claims within 30 calendar days of receiving a claim to ease cash-flow strains on rural pharmacies. Passed 9-0.
- Senate Bill 1447 — Restrictions on contracts for the Oklahoma Employee Insurance Plan: Senator Galahari said the bill would exclude PBMs that had judgments or fines over $4,000,000 in the prior five years from contracting with the plan, favor in-state bidders, and disfavor PBMs that own insurers, retail or mail-order pharmacies, or manufacturers. The author said she is working with the Attorney General's office on legal concerns. Passed 7-2.
- Senate Bill 1646 — Evidence-based protections and enforcement: The bill would emphasize evidence-based decision-making, prohibit retroactive rescission and authorize enforcement by the Oklahoma Insurance Commission. Passed 7-2.
- Senate Bills 2000 and 2007 — Appeals and admin fees: The bills would prohibit PBMs from lowering reimbursements after a pharmacy wins an appeal and create administrative fees payable to pharmacies when PBMs fail to apply required adjustments in time. SB2007 was reported passed 9-0.
- Senate Bill 1275 — Short-term rentals disclosure: Senator Mann said the bill requires all fees for short-term rentals be disclosed upfront, with only tax added at the pay screen; passed 9-0.
Several bills were presented with little or no questions or debate; others (notably SB1447) drew questions about legal vulnerability and whether language could be construed as an unlawful restraint on trade. Committee chairs and authors repeatedly noted they were coordinating with the Attorney General's office and staff to refine statutory language. The record shows votes for each bill as listed above; all passed committee and were advanced for further consideration.
The committee adjourned after completing business and indicated one more meeting next week to take up remaining measures.