Oklahoma Passes HME Licensure Bill 

Published in Government Relations on June 02, 2022

Grassroots efforts paid off for Oklahoma HME suppliers as the Oklahoma HME state licensure bill, H.B. 2649, passed 86‐4. The Governor signed the bill on Friday, May 20.

HME state licensure will help do the following:

Protect an HME business with minimal requirements
Make it difficult for out of state providers to take an HME business
Promote credibility and transparency in the HME industry by showing that DME companies are the “good guys”
Fight competitive bidding because it won’t let out-of-state providers provide DME without following regulations
Give DME a spot at the policy table

Oklahoma Medical Equipment Providers Association (OMEPA) formed in 2017 with HME suppliers in every corner of Oklahoma, with a common goal of improving services and accessibility to home medical equipment in Oklahoma. The group formed as a strong, unified voice to represent suppliers at the state and federal levels. The goal of the formed association had state licensure in the forefront to ensure Oklahomans served Oklahomans.

“I am incredibly grateful for the OMEPA members and their sacrifice of time for the good of our HME industry,” stated Larry Dalton, president of OMEPA. “OMEPA is honored with the friendship of the Oklahoma House and Senate over the past five years with the passing of two major bills that have helped our industry. I am honored as a member of the Oklahoma HME providers, and standing together, we shall prevail for the good of our communities.”

This could not have been accomplished without the efforts of the OMEPA Board & the Membership, especially Larry Dalton, Victor Clay, Katie Roberts, Kellie Kicklighter, Vanessa Kehl, DeAnn Garrison, Helen Woitchek, Jennifer Martin, John Gallagher, Ted Metcalf, and so many others who worked the floor of the Capital building and made calls throughout this two‐year process of pressing 2021/2022 H.B. 2649.

Also, many thanks go out to the champions in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Jon Echols (author), Rep. T. J. Marti (co‐author), and Rep. Justin Humphrey; and our Oklahoma Senate champions, Sen. Jessica Garvin (sponsor), Sen. Tom Dugger (co‐sponsor), and Sen. Greg McCortney.

Congratulations goes out to great folks of OMEPA who worked tirelessly to get this legislation passed.

OMEPA State Capital Team