OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A bill that sought to give Oklahoma patients the power to hold health insurance companies accountable for denied or delayed treatments has stalled in the state legislature.
House Bill 2144, authored by Rep. Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City), would have allowed Oklahomans to sue insurance providers if delays or denials of care negatively impacted their health. The bill received unanimous approval in the House in March, signaling strong bipartisan support. However, it failed to receive a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee before the committee deadline on Thursday, April 24.
“This is about fairness and accountability,” Kannady said when introducing the bill. “We’ve seen time and again where people’s lives are on the line, and their treatments are denied—not because of medical judgment, but because of cost.”
One such person is Lacy Cornelius-Boyd of Yukon, whose life took a devastating turn after a car crash left her with only 35 inches of intestines—compared to the average 35 feet. Doctors determined she would need an intestinal transplant, but her insurance company has repeatedly denied coverage.
“They told me I could live just fine without it,” Cornelius-Boyd said, describing the emotional and physical toll of fighting for coverage for over a year. “But this is my life. I need that transplant to survive.”
Cornelius-Boyd’s story is one of many that lawmakers cited in support of HB 2144. Advocates say the bill would empower patients and discourage insurers from making decisions based solely on financial considerations.
The bill’s failure to move forward in the Senate leaves its future uncertain. Lawmakers and advocacy groups say they will continue to push for the measure in future sessions, but for now, patients like Cornelius-Boyd are left waiting—both for treatment and for change.
