Issues Impacting Oklahoma Doctors


“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

COVID, Immunizations, Medical Transparency, Lawsuit Reform, Health Care Authority Board Members, Scope of Practice Restrictions…and the list goes on! There are numerous legislative challenges facing physicians today, which is why it is essential to be involved and engaged in the legislative session. As your advocates at the State Capitol, the Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA) works to keep you informed about issues impacting your patients and your practice.


Areas of concern:

  • Legal Reform: Maintain our recent gains and provide greater protections for physicians. Promote access to care by providing physicians with a stable and lower-cost medical liability system.

  • Physician Practice: Oppose legislation that would mandate specific courses of treatment or otherwise override a physician’s medical judgment. Support efforts to decrease administrative burdens on physician offices.

  • Scope of Practice: Defend against any legislation that would expand the scopes of practice for mid-level providers without the approval of the Patients' Coalition. Support efforts to ensure that allopathic and osteopathic physicians are appropriately referenced in any legislation dealing with medical procedures. Oppose any legislation that could jeopardize patient safety or create a “two-tiered” system of care for patients on Medicaid or who live in medically underserved areas.

  • Reimbursement: Maintain adequate physician reimbursement through Medicaid and support insurance reforms that will help maintain physician reimbursement levels. Promote access to care by providing adequate reimbursement and other incentives for physicians to see Medicaid patients and to serve in rural communities.

  • Public Health. Support anti-tobacco, anti-obesity, vaccinations and other initiatives to improve the public health in Oklahoma.

  • Residency Funding. Increase funding for graduate medical education (GME) to help train and retain the next generation of Oklahoma physicians.

Additional Resources:

For more information on state legislative issues contact Matt Robison.


Legislative Updates

Weekly Legislative Update: May 22, 2023

Posted on 5/22/2023
The legislature has called a concurrent special session which started meeting last Wednesday. It will allow lawmakers to finalize this year's budget and meet after when the current session was scheduled to adjourn on May 26 if necessary.

Weekly Legislative Update: May 15, 2023

Posted on 5/15/2023
The Health Information Exchange (HIE) continues to be a major and controversial issue for health care professionals across the state. Data privacy is of utmost importance to the patient and physician and must be maintained.

Weekly Legislative Update: May 1, 2023

Posted on 5/1/2023
(Members Only) OSMA continues to be the major player when negotiating and affecting measures important to the physician profession.

Weekly Legislative Update: April 24, 2023

Posted on 4/26/2023
(Members Only) OSMA continues to be a major player when negotiating measures affecting the physician profession. These negotiations remain a priority. Measures have until Thursday, April 27 to be considered on the opposite chamber’s floor.

Weekly Legislative Update: April 17, 2023

Posted on 4/17/2023
(Members Only) If you were able to, THANK YOU for attending OSMA’s Annual Meeting and House of Delegates where OSMA released our new logo!

Legislative Update: April 10, 2023

Posted on 4/10/2023
(Members Only) House and Senate Leadership continue to posture on common education structure and funding. This being the case, the deadline for measures to pass the committees in the opposite chamber has been extended to Thursday, April 13.