Bill > HB4460

This bill, concerning health insurance in Oklahoma, aims to protect patients and clarify responsibilities between health plans, clinicians, and hospitals by defining key terms like "allowed amount" (the maximum a health plan will pay for a service), "clinician" (a qualified medical professional), "cost share" (a patient's out-of-pocket expenses like copays and deductibles), "health plan" (any insurance policy or arrangement for health services), and "provider" (any licensed healthcare professional or facility). It mandates that health plans must directly collect cost-sharing amounts from patients, cannot cancel or penalize coverage for non-payment of these amounts, and must offer affordable payment plans for them. Furthermore, health plans are required to pay clinicians and hospitals the full allowable amount for services, regardless of whether the patient has paid their cost share, and are prohibited from contractually obligating clinicians to collect these patient payments. Violations of these provisions will result in penalties, including fines and sanctions, enforced by the Attorney General, with the act taking effect on November 1, 2026.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb4460&Session=2600