A. For purposes of this section:

1. 1. "Compel" shall include penalties or fines;
2. 2. "Direct payment or pay directly" means payment for lawful health care services without a public or private third party, not including an employer, paying for any portion of the service;
3. 3. "Health care system" means any public or private entity whose function or purpose is the management of, processing of, enrollment of individuals for or payment for, in full or in part, health care services or health care data or health care information for its participants;
4. 4. "Lawful health care services" means any health-related service or treatment to the extent that the service or treatment is permitted or not prohibited by law or regulation that may be provided by persons or businesses otherwise permitted to offer such services; and
5. 5. "Penalties or fines" means any civil or criminal penalty or fine, tax, salary or wage withholding or surcharge or any named fee with a similar effect established by law or rule by a government-established, -created or -controlled agency that is used to punish or discourage the exercise of rights protected under this section.

B. To preserve the freedom of Oklahomans to provide for their health care:

1. 1. A law or rule shall not compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system; and
2. 2. A person or employer may pay directly for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for paying directly for lawful health care services. A health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.

D. This section shall not:

1. 1. Affect which health care services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide;
2. 2. Affect which health care services are permitted by law;
3. 3. Prohibit care related to workers’ compensation;
4. 4. Affect laws or rules in effect as of January 1, 2010; or

5. 5. Affect the terms or conditions of any health care system to the extent that those terms and conditions do not have the effect of punishing a person or employer for paying directly for lawful health care services or a health care provider or hospital for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services.

   Historical Data

   Added by Laws 2010, SJR 59, Section 1, State Question 756, Legislative Referendum 356, adopted at election held November 2, 2010.