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OklahomaSB 1553Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenate

Medicaid; specifying certain qualifications for appeals; providing for recovery of certain costs. Effective date.

Sponsored By: Spencer Kern (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Licensed clinicians must review appeals

Beginning 2026-11-01, an appeal is reviewed by a licensed physician or, when appropriate, a licensed psychologist or other qualified mental health professional. Contractors cannot use automated claim review software or any automated process for appeals. The reviewer must hold an active, unrestricted U.S. license, match the specialty for the condition, be independent with no financial interest, and review medical records and relevant medical literature.

Standard Medicaid appeals and fair hearings

Beginning 2026-11-01, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority sets uniform appeal rules for all Medicaid contractors. Members and providers use these steps to ask the contractor to re-check any denial. If the denial is upheld, the member or provider can request a fair hearing from the Authority. The Authority sets hearing procedures that follow 42 C.F.R. Part 431.

Providers get six months to appeal

Beginning 2026-11-01, a provider has six months from the day the provider receives a claim denial to file an appeal. The six-month clock starts on the date the denial was received.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Spencer Kern

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Toni Hasenbeck

    Republican • House

  • Remove as author Senator Rosino and substitute with Senator Kern Add as principal House author Representative Hasenbeck

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 315 • No: 2

House vote • 5/6/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 90 • No: 2

House vote • 4/15/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

SENATE

Yes: 46 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 45 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

SENATE

Yes: 42 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

SENATE

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/16/2026

Committee vote: Health & Human Services

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 05/12/2026

    5/13/2026Senate

  2. Sent to Governor

    5/6/2026Senate

  3. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  4. Enrolled, to House

    5/6/2026Senate

  5. Referred for enrollment

    5/6/2026Senate

  6. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  7. Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 90 Nays: 2

    5/6/2026House

  8. General Order

    5/6/2026House

  9. CR; Do Pass Health and Human Services Oversight Committee

    4/16/2026House

  10. Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Public Health

    4/1/2026House

  11. Referred to Public Health

    3/30/2026House

  12. Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services Oversight

    3/30/2026House

  13. First Reading

    3/26/2026House

  14. Engrossed to House

    3/26/2026Senate

  15. Referred for engrossment

    3/25/2026Senate

  16. Measure passed: Ayes: 45 Nays: 0

    3/25/2026Senate

  17. Ayes: 42 Nays: 0

    3/25/2026Senate

  18. Advanced to Third Reading

    3/25/2026Senate

  19. Title restored

    3/25/2026Senate

  20. General Order, Amended

    3/25/2026Senate

  21. Coauthored by Representative Hasenbeck (principal House author)

    3/24/2026Senate

  22. Placed on General Order

    2/24/2026Senate

  23. Withdrawn from Appropriations committee

    2/24/2026Senate

  24. Referred to Appropriations

    2/16/2026Senate

  25. Title stricken

    2/16/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled (final version)

    5/7/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (House)

    4/20/2026

    PDF

  • House Committee Report

    4/16/2026

    PDF

  • House Policy Committee Report

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Engrossed

    3/26/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (Senate)

    2/24/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report

    2/16/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/12/2026

    PDF

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