Oklahoma Senate Bill SB388

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21
• Report Pass: 2/8/21
• Engrossed: 2/18/21
• Refer: 3/22/21
• Report Pass: 3/30/21
• Enrolled: 4/22/21
• Passed: 4/27/21

Caption

Home care; requiring eligibility certification and oversight by healthcare provider; providing retroactivity. Emergency.

Impact

The passage of SB388 will significantly impact existing statutes governing home care services in Oklahoma by introducing rigid certification requirements for healthcare providers overseeing home care. Under this new regulation, home care agencies will have to ensure that they meet specific minimum standards and that their aides are appropriately trained and certified to provide care services. This could lead to improved patient safety and care quality, as it helps in organizing a more professional home care industry.

Summary

Senate Bill 388 amends the Oklahoma Home Care Act to enhance the regulation of home care services by requiring that eligibility for these services must be certified by a healthcare provider. The bill also mandates oversight of patient care by the healthcare provider. This requirement is retroactive, applying to certifications performed on or after March 27, 2020. The legislation aims to strengthen the standards surrounding home care services, thus ensuring that patients receive proper care in accordance with established healthcare guidelines.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment concerning SB388 has been supportive among healthcare advocates who believe that increased regulation will improve service quality and patient safety. However, there are concerns from home care providers regarding the potential burden of additional regulations and oversight. This has led to a dialogue about balancing regulatory oversight with the need for flexibility in providing diverse home care services, indicating a divide in opinions between these stakeholders.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding SB388 include provisions that may impose significant operational changes on home care agencies, particularly smaller agencies unprepared for stringent compliance measures. While many in the industry support the aim of ensuring quality care, they fear that the retroactive nature of the certification requirement could disrupt current services. The emergency clause in the bill also raised eyebrows, leading to debates on whether such urgency was warranted given the complexities involved in implementing these new regulations.