[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326438,"mediaKeyId","2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8","parentId",2324455,"title","Committee approves bill to enable mental-health diversion pilots in areas of greatest need","audioSeconds",717,"startMs",833430,"endMs",1550765,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8&start=833&end=1550","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8/thumbnail_833430.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326438/Oklahoma/Committee-approves-bill-to-enable-mental-health-diversion-pilots-in-areas-of-greatest-need","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326438-3f68bc6fbc4a15a3ee44587589b01d7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029829&Signature=OzEb8gdCU2vDNKbeobB-GOh1HbB029Z6twHZoLvz6VZ5KOAu8SMF2rQ0844Yz1lmQ74TO4qP43wAw7PorxxvmyXLL5rS6EhkFDOcpQdFAueH9bi6yLkMPbedt8REWW6xoGJhNa2cVyCvm9AkiSTgTli5b5oKZYoJVkPJ0toxg9xFaBHuJnF-zqh7CExtvQhl7GgqvCEhSs3o3GWBOBd4ZXymmRy-i6hyxd6vR3TQ7qp0VaNIRkUmBaOS8txIO4QTS0lJyHp9x~ah7u8gAZXduEyDvCxnSEcchiqMi41XhLE16SAll077y0egUJxRxqNr43ZdF4Xoy1TVkHUzyQ7v8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","OK State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Waldron presented House Bill 2248, saying the bill “directs the department [to] address the mental health crisis in areas of greatest need using existing funding pathways” and that the measure would help communities create diversion options and mental-health courts.

During committee questions, Representative Roe asked whether the bill tied to State Question 781; Waldron confirmed that SQ 781 created the county community safety investment fund, which can be used for diversion and mental-health court services. Members raised operational concerns: Representative Marty questioned whether the Mental Health and Substance Abuse department currently has the data and systems to run pilot programs, and whether access to electronic health records (EHRs) or other data-sharing arrangements would be required for evaluation.

Waldron and other supporters said the bill’s intent is to create rulemaking and pathways so counties and existing community partners can implement diversion programs; she described using judicial districts to organize multi-county mental-health courts and stressed the need for qualified personnel in rural areas. Representative Snead and others referenced Muskogee County as an existing model and suggested using that experience to develop pilot parameters.

Committee members discussed funding and timing. Waldron cited a funding pathway created by criminal justice reform savings — roughly $25 million referenced in committee discussion — and noted possible federal funding sources as well. Some members asked that the bill’s title be stricken so sponsors could refine the fiscal language; Waldron agreed. The subcommittee voted 6 ayes and 0 nays to pass HB 2248 and asked sponsors to provide additional fiscal detail and operational plans for implementing pilots in rural counties.

Ending: HB 2248 passed 6–0. Members asked sponsors to produce implementation guidance and fiscal estimates, including options for using existing county or statewide funds and shared-service judicial-district models to expand mental-health court access in rural areas.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee Feb 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Waldron presented House Bill 2248, saying the bill “directs the department [to] address the mental health crisis in areas of greatest need using existing funding pathways” and that the measure would help communities create diversion options and mental-health courts.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature OK, Oklahoma","taxId",78380,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326442,"Panel advances bill to shift revenue into state trauma fund; lawmakers debate source",609,206225,815565,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8&start=206&end=815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8/thumbnail_206225.jpg","/articles/6326442/Oklahoma/Panel-advances-bill-to-shift-revenue-into-state-trauma-fund-lawmakers-debate-source","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326442-5a98a8dbef577a9b553440ad93398355/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029829&Signature=S3T7T9B2AmsVNm-N9vtNaR-hjChY3JgcdqpKpGAUgVvIs3YtKrh3uVfz61v~3QTJu1oBkwuVRk92zpIJioMHb1uAYIsUNh-QQ4kmhRElIqHncI9g32jlZHCllRy-w2sKAKP4nzJYkaypfdeXv0IUzt-Mydxz249FPtwOXkZxixAMWGEpKFmzoJWNJ6ZOYZ9~Ne7t5WtLOf4N8oa5eT2RrFdzY~sqEXST5CdUwqa4V5y5Q0torXrSLsapA3nc93LZHQD3suiwdOX6QXev51g9sRj3d1oahm5IWHlxlmb8piHUI8gbpusHbXcDOAdgZyAfHAtIvtVzteKDVjJ-dt-9QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Chapman presented House Bill 2,057, describing it as a measure related to Oklahoma's State Trauma Care and Assistance Revolving Fund, a continuing fund designed to support emergency medical care for severely injured patients. Chapman said the fund faces shortfalls due to declining revenue from vaping and smoking and that the bill seeks to shore it up.

Chapman said the bill was a work in progress and that sponsors “intend to scribe title” and continued to refine language. During questioning, members repeatedly asked where the revenue to shore up the trauma fund would come from.

Several lawmakers raised concerns that the bill would redirect money currently used for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Representative Marty and others asked whether the department was already using those funds and whether diverting them would create service gaps. Chapman and supporters said their impression was that the proposed change would not unduly burden the State Department of Health, but they did not provide definitive accounting in the hearing.

Representative Steed and other members suggested alternative funding sources, including the Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation fund; one member asked Chapman to investigate whether that fund might be a better fit for trauma-related spending. Chapman said he would research which agencies and funds would be affected and report back as the bill text is refined.

Members also discussed a specific figure referenced in committee questioning: Chapman said he had been told the department sought an additional $2,000,000 beyond last year’s appropriation for related services. Committee members agreed to remove the bill title and continue work on language and fiscal details. The subcommittee voted 5 ayes and 1 nay to pass the bill as amended and moved it forward.

Ending: The subcommittee passed HB 2,057, 5–1. Sponsors and members requested more detailed fiscal accounting and asked staff to consult the Department of Health about any programmatic impacts before the next committee stage.","House Bill 2,057, aimed at shoring up the State Trauma Care and Assistance Revolving Fund, passed the subcommittee after debate over whether the change would divert money from drug and alcohol rehabilitation and whether alternate funding (crime victims compensation) should be used.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326447,"Committee approves bill to add bundled cognitive-evaluation code for Medicaid",196,2640,199110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8&start=2&end=199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8/thumbnail_2640.jpg","/articles/6326447/Oklahoma/Committee-approves-bill-to-add-bundled-cognitive-evaluation-code-for-Medicaid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326447-3a91e7f9b40faa78dcd405a8188d595f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029829&Signature=VrvQ1y14yztZVMFwbjOBllJFYSgYsHTIEhbSbFCHkJNaLxl34Ef9itkToBUE6QJwOUqesKzRvxtmKJrlRfo2ordT6N~uYsrEskFWl3Lk9oUnew-Yn5Ak2BWELNbQiZOsX84pJPhs6DsYq4oDedbBMjyKCJ2sH28NiQezkLBHtWKvVSCyrjeY5Xcl3q7kkffanrQDN955-DDSR-srbecukngLD3DGesVEuAKYYRpnX~CvX-8HoOTRC~IPn-NhlMeOcXWzQEmopDFxZJ2rwbnfp0wHS6sperRTFCMMWbkzmwrd3zKO~4RhLaNZpKjUXy5Gwc3r8kPiQjYc8bAGkV7Q1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Stark presented House Bill 2,268 to the A & B Health Subcommittee, saying the measure would add a billing code to Medicaid that “allows for bundled appointment, including both comprehensive cognitive evaluation and care planning, ensuring that caregivers are actively involved in the process,” an Alzheimer’s Association request, and one that Stark said already is covered in CMS for Medicare.

The proposal, supporters said, aims to support early detection and personalized management of cognitive impairment. Representative Stark said the change is primarily a coding alignment so Medicaid matches Medicare rather than a new program: “It’s just been overlooked in, for Medicaid and so it does it for Medicaid, makes it match up with Medicare,” he said.

Members asked about fiscal impact. Representative Rowe asked whether a fiscal analysis was available. Stark and other supporters said the health department had been asked for numbers but had not yet provided a finalized estimate. Stark described the range of possible impact: about 440 patients could qualify, only a small percentage (he cited roughly 3–4 percent and elsewhere referenced a 2.4 percent figure mentioned by stakeholders) would likely use the service, and cost estimates ranged from roughly $3,000 at the low end to under $100,000 total at the high end. Stark and questioners emphasized the estimate was preliminary and that the committee hoped for more precise figures before subsequent committee consideration.

Members clarified implementation details. Representative Pittman asked whether implementation would require any new systems or infrastructure; Stark replied there would be no implementation cost beyond creating the billing code. Representative Snead and others pressed on utilization assumptions and asked whether the Alzheimer’s Association or the health department could refine the uptake estimate before further review.

The committee recorded a voice vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays and passed HB 2,268 to the next stage.

Ending: The bill passed the subcommittee 6–0; staff and lawmakers noted outstanding fiscal questions and asked for a department estimate before full committee review.","The A & B Health Subcommittee approved House Bill 2,268 to add a Medicaid billing code that bundles a comprehensive cognitive evaluation with care planning and caregiver involvement; supporters said it aligns Medicaid with Medicare and should have limited fiscal impact.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326433,"Subcommittee advances bill requiring publication of mental-health parity information from managed-care plans",271,1572400,1843889,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8&start=1572&end=1843","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324455-853f9188b089111679c6308378b4e7e8/thumbnail_1572400.jpg","/articles/6326433/Oklahoma/Subcommittee-advances-bill-requiring-publication-of-mental-health-parity-information-from-managed-care-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326433-c929558124652aabded7ae08d86ce066/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029829&Signature=o3jib7~XgMlPXiZtIOjvocJjfQYNquIGQUr9-4QA9Py1WqMmVpByuh9dRqGk5ZgA8K8Qszx~y~Hilwb1349UXlKcyiGQ3cFyJ4JRwaTIPkorS08tph1TrY~70uLLpHmV4EW3d0VCUlmsmJuBHSngGZOaINuhcnpltCxN0gJn2muPwZLEqp0jWWyQ7pFFhSA-I1d92p6y2dLnUCeJHDbxdTLhgRb93W6iu0~VtHS-QjI-0uupjyLvcL8grf64O41IHeZl3G3bfjsHPMbOA7fimvtiT8QMY2onI0cvc3Y0qfZakbSY1p458sXJiuJwnToqCV-~zJPrFEecNFPSq2x4yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Stinson (presenting as chairman for the sponsor) introduced House Bill 2,049, a request from the Healthy Minds Coalition that would require the Health Care Authority and managed-care organizations to publish information about mental-health parity in their plans. The sponsor told the committee the data are already collected by the managed-care entities and this bill would add a publication requirement.

Members asked clarifying questions about what “parity” would look like in practice. One member asked whether parity required equal dollars spent on mental and physical health; sponsors and other lawmakers responded that parity refers to comparable coverage and administration rather than dollar-for-dollar equivalence in all cases. The discussion included an example about inpatient utilization management practices and parity in review timing for discharge decisions.

A motion and second were recorded, staff opened the vote, and the committee voted 6 aye, 0 nay to pass HB 2,049. Committee members recommended the sponsor proceed with follow-up materials to the next committee.

Ending: HB 2,049 passed the subcommittee unanimously; sponsors will provide follow-up materials as the bill moves to the next stage.","House Bill 2,049, requested by the Healthy Minds Coalition, would require the Health Care Authority and managed-care organizations to publish information about mental-health parity in their plans; the committee passed the bill unanimously after sponsors said the data already are collected and the change adds a publication requirement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves bill to enable mental-health diversion pilots in areas of greatest need

Panel advances bill to shift revenue into state trauma fund; lawmakers debate source

Committee approves bill to add bundled cognitive-evaluation code for Medicaid

Subcommittee advances bill requiring publication of mental-health parity information from managed-care plans