The bill amends Section 10 of Chapter 303 of the Oklahoma Statutes to modify the validity period for prior authorizations related to the treatment of chronic conditions. Specifically, it establishes that prior authorizations for non-inpatient care must remain valid for at least six months, while those for inpatient acute care must be valid for at least fourteen calendar days. Additionally, the bill changes the timeframe for submitting requests for continuation of inpatient care from seventy-two hours to twenty-four hours before the termination of the previously approved authorization.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a utilization review entity does not respond to a timely request for continuation of inpatient care, the health benefit plan must continue to compensate the healthcare provider at the contracted rate until a determination is made. It also ensures that stricter criteria cannot be used for determining medical necessity for continued inpatient care compared to the initial authorization. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.