HB 1250 Summary: Oklahoma Any Willing Institute Act

• Creates the "Oklahoma Any Willing Institute Act" to regulate health insurance coverage of designated healthcare institutes (hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, community mental health centers, rural health clinics)

• Prohibits health insurers from imposing higher copayments, reduced reimbursement, or other penalties that would discourage patients from selecting particular participating healthcare institutes

• Allows insurers to maintain quality control and cost-management measures (including gatekeeper systems) provided they are applied equally to all institutes in the same class

• Applies to state and education employee health plans and most health insurers; exempts self-insured ERISA plans and allows noninsurers to create separate provider networks

• Provides healthcare institutes the right to sue for injunctive relief (but not damages) against violating insurers; effective November 1, 2011