AARP Backed Laws Expected to Improve Access to Health Care and Support Caregivers Take Effect November 1

Two new state laws, which are expected to improve access to health care, reduce medical costs and better support family caregivers, take effect today, November 1, 2016.

Backed by AARP Oklahoma, one law joins Oklahoma with about two dozen other states in a Nurse Licensure Compact. The compact allows qualifying nurses to acquire a multistate license and practice in any participating state. The other law, also backed by AARP OK, removes a cumbersome and outdated requirement for patients to sign a consent form in person before consulting with a health care provider via telemedicine.

In the upcoming legislative session that begins February 6, 2017, AARP Oklahoma will press for measures to assist about 524,000 Oklahomans who serve as family caregivers. For more information or to get involved in advocacy, email Mark Nichols, AARP associate state director for advocacy, at mailto:rnichols@aarp.org, or call him at 405-715-4470.