This week has been especially active at the State Capitol as oversight committees worked through an important stage of the legislative session. These committees carefully review legislation before it can move to the House floor.
March 5 marked the deadline for House bills and joint resolutions to pass out of oversight, Appropriations and Budget or rules committees in the House. Lawmakers passed 269 measures through these committees this week.
When the Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature began, there were 1,578 House bills and 50 House joint resolutions filed. At this point, about 500 measures remain active. The House has already passed a number of bills and the next three weeks will focus on hearing many of the remaining proposals.
From here, all remaining House bills must advance out of oversight committees to remain eligible to be heard on the House floor. This stage often brings passionate debates as members work to move their bills through the legislative process.
Our next major deadline is March 26, when all House bills must be heard and voted on by the full House to move to the Senate for further consideration.
I have also received many calls and messages about House Bill 3538, and I want to help explain what the bill does.
Many of you have asked whether the bill could impact mail-order pharmacies, home delivery services or coordinated pharmacy programs used by veterans, military families and others managing chronic health conditions. I understand those concerns. Reliable and uninterrupted access to medication is incredibly important and protecting that stability is a top priority for me.
House Bill 3538 does not force the closure of mail-order or specialty pharmacies. It does not eliminate home delivery options, and it does not change benefits for TRICARE beneficiaries or other patients who rely on coordinated pharmacy programs.
The main purpose of the bill is to address conflicts of interest involving Pharmacy Benefit Managers, commonly known as PBMs. These companies help manage prescription drug benefits by setting pharmacy networks, determining reimbursements and negotiating drug prices. In some cases, however, PBMs also own the pharmacies that fill prescriptions.
When a company both manages the benefit and owns the pharmacy, it can create situations where patients may be steered toward certain pharmacies or where competition is limited. HB3538 would require PBMs to separate from owning retail pharmacies licensed in Oklahoma, including those that operate as mail-order pharmacies.
Mail-order and home delivery services would be able to continue. These services would operate through pharmacies that contract with PBMs but are not owned by them. The bill simply prevents PBMs themselves from owning those pharmacies in Oklahoma.
The legislation also includes safeguards to ensure patients continue receiving the medications they need. The Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy would have the authority to issue limited-use licenses for rare or specialty medications that could otherwise face availability challenges.
But maybe most importantly, the bill does not force patients to change pharmacies or disrupt coordinated care programs. Veterans and others who rely on timely home delivery for medications should continue receiving the reliable service they depend on.
In other Capitol news, one of my favorite days of the session also took place this week… Nurses Day at the Capitol! As a nurse practitioner, this event always holds a special place in my heart.
It was an honor to meet with nursing students and health care professionals from across Oklahoma who came to the Capitol to advocate for their patients and their profession. I truly appreciate everyone who took the time to be involved and share their perspective.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Please know you remain in my thoughts and prayers each day. If you ever have questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out. I always appreciate hearing from you.
My email address is cynthia.roe@okhouse.gov, or you can call my office at (405) 557-7365. Thank you for letting me represent you at the Capitol!
Rep. Cynthia Roe, a Republican, represents House District 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties.
