Representative presents HB 4,294 to expand insurance coverage for neurostimulator devices after Dylan’s Law

A state representative told a House committee that House Bill 4,294 is a follow-up to Dylan’s Law and would require health insurers to cover medically necessary neurostimulator devices for people with epilepsy. The presenter said the measure builds on last year’s legislation, which they described as “the most comprehensive bill in law on epilepsy in the entire country.”

The sponsor said an estimated 41,000 Oklahomans live with epilepsy and described the bill as narrowly focused on coverage for neurostimulant (neurostimulator) devices. On fiscal impact, the sponsor reported receiving the latest fiscal analysis that morning; the transcript records both a “roughly $700,000” figure and a separate Health Care Authority estimate of “roughly $53,000.” The transcript does not make clear how those two figures relate; the Health Care Authority number was cited directly by the sponsor as the authority’s estimate.

Representative Blansett questioned the sponsor about the size of the affected population, the bill’s initial cost, and anticipated long-term savings. The sponsor responded with the population estimate and the fiscal figures cited above, and said they had worked with stakeholders to tighten the bill’s language.

Following brief discussion, committee members moved the bill and the clerk opened the roll. Several members were recorded as voting “aye” during the roll call. The chair declared the final tally 14 aye, 1 nay, and the committee reported HB 4,294 out of committee to the floor.

The bill’s sponsor characterized the proposal as narrowly targeted insurance coverage to align private coverage with medical needs for people with epilepsy; a written fiscal analysis was referenced during the hearing but the transcript records two different dollar figures without clarifying their relationship. The committee’s action sends the bill to the full House for further consideration.