Oklahoma to be one of 10 states with full telehealth parity

Oklahoma will greatly expand access to telehealth with a new law taking effect Jan. 1. SB 674, which Gov. Stitt signed into law in May, requires that health care providers be reimbursed for medically appropriate telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits. This parity was approved temporarily during last year’s public health emergency. Now permanent, telehealth parity will transform access to care in rural areas and increase access to mental health services.

Healthy Minds initiated SB 674 and worked with its principal authors, Sen. Greg McCortney and Rep. Mark McEntire, to secure legislative approval.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened mental health needs and increased the importance of telehealth as a vital model for the delivery of care. With strengthened parity, Oklahoma is poised to be a national leader in telehealth access.

Learn more:
Measure providing telehealth parity signed into law (Oklahoma Senate)
Legislative fact sheet: telehealth parity (Healthy Minds fact sheet)

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