SoonerCare program saves millions, authority says
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080321_1_A9_hItcu10185

Synopsis of story: An initiative to reduce the number of "inappropriate" emergency room visits by SoonerCare participants saved the state millions of dollars last year, according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.This article was published on tulsaworld.com on 3/21/2008.

Legislative Update 03-28-08

This week marked another deadline in the State Legislature. Yesterday was the last day for the third reading in the opposite house of origin.
SB 2007, the fact witness bill, by Senator Nichols and Representative Terrill, would provide fairness and transparency in the legal process for physicians that take time from their patients to testify at trial. Physicians who are called to testify as fact witnesses at trial but actually end up testifying as expert witnesses would be compensated appropriately. This bill, which is supported by the OSMA, moved off the House floor yesterday.

HB 2276, the general appropriations bill worth $7.068 billion, passed out of the Senate this week. The budget includes additional funds for the Department of Education, the Department of Corrections, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. This bill is now headed to the Governor.

SB 156, the lawsuit reform bill by Representative Sulllivan, was “laid over” on the House floor yesterday to be reconsidered at a later date. This piece of legislation is very similar to last year’s lawsuit reform bill, SB 507. OSMA is in support of this bill.

The 2008 Legislative Session is six weeks from Sine Die!

SB 156, by Senator Laughlin and Representative Blackwell, is a lawsuit reform bill. This bill resembles last year’s SB 507. OSMA is very supportive of this piece of legislation and is currently working with the bill’s authors. SB 156 was voted out of committee and is now headed to the House Floor.

HB 3060, by Representative Hamilton and Senator Gumm, would establish a public umbilical cord blood bank. This legislation would also establish an educational program for maternity patients. HB 3060 passed the Senate Floor and the OSMA is supportive of this bill.

SB 2001, by Senator Laughlin and Representative Blackwell, relates to abortion. The OSMA does not take a stand on abortion, but is opposed to this legislation because it puts a mandate on Physicians or imposes civil or criminal penalties for a legal procedure. SB 2001 was voted from House Committee and is now headed to the House Floor.

Please continue to watch for Legislative Updates in News Now.

Legislative Update 03-28-08

HB 3060 by Representative Hamilton and Senator Gumm, passed out of Senate Health and Human Resources Committee yesterday. HB 3060 would direct the Oklahoma State Department of Health to create a public cord-blood bank for Oklahomans, as long as the funding was available. The OSMA supports Rep. Hamilton and Senator Gumm’s effort in HB 3060.

HB 1647 by Representative Pam Peterson would allow a radiologist to use the services of a radiologist assistant, as long as they were licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, to practice radiology assistance. The radiologist assistant would be under the direct supervision of a physician licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision or the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners and certified by the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology. This bill passed out of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee and the OSMA is monitoring this bill.

Legislative Update 03-21-08

Bills have now moved into opposite Houses in the Legislature for consideration. Below are a few bills, that the Oklahoma State Medical Association is tracking, and their status.

HB 3114 by Representative Peterson would authorize income tax deduction for wages paid to first time employees in the industries of aerospace; energy; advanced manufacturing; bio-technology; information technology; and, healthcare. This bill has moved out of the House and to the Senate. The OSMA supports this piece of legislation.

HB 2805 by Representative Brown would require the State Department of Health along with the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Council to adopt a standardized electronic data-sharing system with statewide capabilities by July 2009. The OSMA has taken a position of opposition to HB 2805 because of the bill’s effective date. It does not give enough time for hospitals and doctors to comply. HB 2805 is headed to the Senate.

SB 1645 by Senator Anderson and Representative Jackson, would require every infant born in this state be tested for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia prior to leaving the hospital the infant was born in. The OSMA is opposed to this legislation because it usually takes a few days for jaundice to occur in a new born and this legislation would give a false since of security. The OSMA is working with the bill’s authors. The bill is in the House for consideration.

Please continue to look for weekly legislative updates in News Now

 

Legislative Update 03-14-08

March 13th, was the deadline for the third reading in the House of Origin, which made for a busy week at the State Capitol.

SB 2007, by Senator Nichols passed out of the Senate on a 43-2 vote.  SB 2007 would provide fairness and transparency in the legal process for physicians that take time from their patients to testify at trial.  Physicians who are called to testify as fact witnesses at trial but actually end up testifying as expert witnesses would be compensated appropriately.  The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm’s SB 1407 passed out of the Senate 27-17 this week.  This bill would limit the amount of mercury to 0.5 micrograms per milliliter dose in vaccines administered to children.  For the influenza vaccine, the amount would be 0.625 micrograms of mercury per 0.25 milliliter dose.  The bill would allow the Commissioner of Health to suspend the limit in cases where large quantities of vaccines are needed in a public health emergency.  SB 1407 is headed to the House. 

 

Legislative Update 03-07-08

The 2008 Legislative Session has just completed the fifth week and we have hit the deadline for the House and Senate bills to be reported from Committee.

There are currently 121 bills alive that the OSMA is tracking. OSMA’s fact witness legislation, SB 2007 by Senator Nichols, passed out of committee and his headed to the Senate floor. This bill would provide fairness and transparency in the legal process for physicians that take time from their patients to testify at trial. Physicians who are called to testify as fact witnesses at trial but actually end up testifying as expert witnesses would be compensated appropriately.

SB 1407 by Senator Gumm is being watched closely. This bill, which OSMA opposes, pertains to the issue of thimerosal (an ethylmercury-based preservative) in vaccines. Supports of this legislation claim the mercury level in the vaccines causes autism. This statement has been strongly refuted by medical experts, the CDC and the Institute of Medicine. This bill would leave infants and toddlers without influenza protection. The OSMA is currently working with Senator Gumm on this legislation.

HB 2760, relating to physician assistance referral, by Representative Cox passed out of the House floor this week. This bill would allow physician assistants to write physical therapy referrals. Patient’s First Coalition, which OSMA is a member of, is not supporting this legislation. Patient’s First believes that this bill interferes with the physician supervisory role, which could impact quality and continuity of care as well as patient safety. The Coalition stands firm on its position that only fully licensed physicians, DOs and MDs, are qualified through education, not legislation to refer patients for physical therapy services.

SB 2007

SB 1407

HB 2760