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Behavioral Health Providers
Prior Authorization Requirements For Providers Prescribing Buprenorphine-Containing Products

Prior authorization requirements are up to the discretion of the state Medicaid program or insurance company.

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Education Required for Addiction Counselor Credentialing

Oklahoma credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires, at minimum, a bachelor's degree, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 4,000 hours of supervised work experience. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires a master's degree, relevant education courses and 2,000 hours of supervised work experience. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 §59-1870 and Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors

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Licensed Professional Counselor Ability to Diagnose

Licensed professional counselors facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the life span. Counselors prevent, diagnose or treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders or associated distress that interfere with mental health and conduct assessments or diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives. Okla. Stat. §59-1902(3)

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Peer Support Specialist Certification or Credentialing Authority

The certification requirements for peer recovery support specialists are established by the state's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The comprehensive certification standards include minimum qualifications, training, continuing education and employment requirements. Okla. Admin. Code § 450:53-1-1, et seq

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Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Certified Nurse Midwife Practice and Prescriptive Authority

Full independent practice authority but physician relationship in order to prescribe.

"Nurse midwifery practice" means providing management of care of normal newborns and women, antepartally, intrapartally, postpartally and gynecologically, occurring within a health care system which provides for medical consultation, medical management or referral, and is in accord with the standards for nurse midwifery practice as defined by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.  Okla. Stat. tit. 59 §567.3a(9)

An advanced practice nurse who is recognized to prescribe by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing as an advanced registered NP and is subject to medical direction by a supervising physician may prescribe and administer Schedule III-V controlled substances. Okla. Stat. tit. 63 §2-312 

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Nurse Practitioner Practice and Prescriptive Authority

Full independent practice authority but physician relationship in order to prescribe.

Supervision by a physician is required in order for the NP to prescribe drugs and other medical supplies. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 §567.3a(6)

An advanced practice nurse who is recognized to prescribe by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing as an advanced registered NP and is subject to medical direction by a supervising physician may prescribe and administer Schedule III-V controlled substances. Okla. Stat. tit. 63 §2-312

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Nurse Practitioner Authority to Sign POLST Forms

Only physicians are authorized to sign POLST forms. Okla. Stat. tit. 63 §63-3105

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Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Primary care providers are limited to physicians, NPs, PAs, and Indian Health Service Facilities and Federally Qualified Health Center provider groups. Okla. Admin. Code §317:25-7-5

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Optometrists
Authority to Perform Ophthalmic Procedures

Optometrists may perform all procedures included in their full scope of practice, including laser surgery. Okla Stat. §59-581(a)

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Injectable Authority

Optometrists may use pharmaceutical agents to treat eye abnormalities. Okla Stat. §59-581(a)

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Prescription of Controlled Substances

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and Schedule II controlled substances containing hydrocodone combinations for a five-day supply. Okla Stat. §59-581(b)

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Oral Health Providers
Dental Hygienists with Direct Access

A dental hygienist may provide services outside of the private dental office for a patient not examined by the dentist. The dentist must authorize care in writing and the dental hygienist must have at least two years of experience. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59 §328.34

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Dental Therapists

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

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Practice of Teledentistry

Teledentistry means the remote delivery of dental patient care via telecommunications and other technology for the exchange of clinical information and images for dental consultation, preliminary treatment planning and patient monitoring. A dentist holding a valid dental license in Oklahoma may consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or asynchronous telecommunication between the patient and dentist. The dentist must record all activities relating to teledentistry in the patient record and must have an office location in Oklahoma available for follow-up treatment and maintenance of records. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 §328.3(34)

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Pharmacists
Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine

Oklahoma has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act allowed pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

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Prescription Adaptation

Oklahoma does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

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Prescription of Hormonal Contraceptives

Oklahoma does not allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

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Prescription of Tobacco Cessation Aids

Oklahoma does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

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Physician Assistants
Physician Assistant Practice and Prescriptive Authority

Supervision by a physician required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A PA may perform health care services in patient care settings as authorized by the delegating physician. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 519.6(F)

"Supervision" means overseeing or delegating the activities of the medical services rendered by a PA through a practice agreement between a medical doctor or osteopathic physician performing procedures or directly or indirectly involved with the treatment of a patient, and the PA working jointly toward a common goal of providing services. Delegation shall be defined by the practice agreement. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 519.2(6),(7)

A PA under the direction of a delegating physician may prescribe written and oral prescriptions and orders. The PA may prescribe drugs, including controlled medications in Schedules II through V. Prescriptions and orders for Schedule II drugs written by a PA must be included on a written protocol determined by the delegating physician and approved by the medical staff committee of the facility or by direct verbal order of the delegating physician. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 519.6(E)

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Number of PAs Supervised

Statute limits the number of PAs a physician may supervise.

A supervising physician shall not serve as the supervising physician for more than a total of six (6) PAs and/or advanced practice nurses regarding their prescriptive authority. Okla. Admin. Code § 435:15-3-13(c)

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Chart Co-Signatures

Chart co-signatures may be determined at the practice level.

In all patient care settings, the delegating physician shall provide appropriate methods of participating in health care services provided by the PA including: … reviewing a sample of outpatient medical records. Such reviews shall take place at a site agreed upon between the delegating physician and PA in the practice agreement which may also occur using electronic or virtual conferencing […]. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 519.6(C)(a),(b),(d)

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Adaptable Proximity Requirements

Statute allows adaptable proximity.

The physical presence of the delegating physician is not required as long as the delegating physician and PA are or can be easily in contact with each other by telecommunication. At all times a PA shall be considered an agent of the delegating physician; […]. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 519.2(6),(7)

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Scope of Practice Determination

The supervising physician delegates medical services to a physician assistant through a practice agreement. Delegated services should be based on the education, training, skills and experience of the physician assistant. Okla. Stat. tit. 59, §519.2(3)

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