State Legislative Update: Budget summits dominate legislature

Posted on: 5/17/24

As of the writing of this article, the Oklahoma House and Senate are convening for their sixth budget summit. Spurred on by the budget transparency process initiated in the Senate this year, these summits initially convened in the governor’s conference room last week. The clock is ticking for the legislature to come to an agreement by the May 31 at 5 p.m. deadline. 

The ongoing budget negotiations have stalled the majority of work at the legislature, but one bill of note did make it across the finish line this week. The HB 3190 (Rep. Carl Newton/Sen. Jessica Garvin), which reforms the prior authorization process, was signed by the governor Wednesday. The bill contains provisions that closely mirror a finalized rule to improve the prior authorization process within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Introduced this session by the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians, the OHA and its member hospitals helped to shape and usher the bill through the legislative process.