Journalist: Ean Cloud (ORU)
Charity Massengale is a Senate delegate from North Texas, representing Southeast Oklahoma University at O.I.L, and her bill just passed with unanimous consent in the Senate. The “Veterans Prescription Access” act of 2025 is a bill which requires all hospitals in the state of Oklahoma, both public and private, to accept all veterans’ insurance, including anything VA related or other Veterans’ organizations.
The roots for this bill come from deep-seated emotions, according to Massengale. Her father was in the Army for 30 years on active duty, however, after he was done with his tour and he was back in the States, he got bit by a spider which, after festering later, sent him to the ER. There, various medications were prescribed, but with a massive catch; he had to either wait 3-5 business days to drive and get it that way, or pay hundreds of dollars for it out of his own pocket due to the fact that most hospitals denied his insurance. Massengale was adamant that this was not something vets should ever have to face.
The bill was short and straight to the point, with very little fluff or complicated mechanics. No new tax would be needed for the act as it would be implemented by Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacies in conjunction with Oklahoma Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Veterans receive access to their prescription at any pharmacy, which makes the whole process simpler for everyone involved with jumping through the complicated mechanics of subsidized insurance. While pharmacies may have to bend to the new rule, which they may not be used to, the bill is planned to take a long time before it gets into full force, giving around 180 days to implement the law and give everyone time to prepare.
For the last details of this bill, the penalties for the pharmacies and other organizations that fail to comply with this new regulation are somewhat basic and align with current Oklahoman policy. A first offense that is decided as malignant by the Board would receive a stern warning. A second penalty would risk a fine against the offending organization of up to 20 thousand dollars, and with a 3rd offense, a fine would be decided by the Board with no limit. A severe punishment for a somewhat minimal change.