OAOP ENEWS

Send Suggestions/Priorities for OAOP Board Retreat

The OAOP Board will be meeting this coming weekend at the annual OAOP retreat to discuss association priorities for 2022/23. Please let OAOP Executive Director Joel Robison know what you believe our areas of focus should be by contacting him at Joel@OAOP.org.

No Surprises Act: Fact Sheets for Your Patients

Share information with your patients to help protect them from surprise billing. As of January 1, 2022, they have new billing protections when they get:

Emergency care
Non-emergency care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities
Air ambulance services from out-of-network providers

4 new No Surprises fact sheets:

For more information, visit the Ending Surprise Medical Bills webpage.

Oklahoma Primary Election Results

Last Tuesday was Primary Election Day for all 77 counties across Oklahoma. Notable results include…

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Sen. James Lankford defeated two GOP challengers, pulling in 68% of the vote. He will the winner of a Democratic runoff in August, either Madison Horn (top placed finisher at 37%) or Jason Bollinger (17%).
The GOP special election primary for retiring Sen. James Inhofe’s seat will go to a runoff. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (44%) and former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon (18%) led the way in a 13 candidate field. The runoff winner will face former Congresswoman Kendra Horn in November.

U.S. House

Congressional incumbents Rep. Frank Lucas (CD3), Rep. Tom Cole (CD4) and Rep. Stephanie Bice (CD5) all won their primaries Tuesday. Rep. Kevin Hern (CD1) did not face a GOP challenger this cycle. All four are expected to be strong favorites in November.
Congressional District 2 will see an August GOP runoff between state Rep. Avery Frix (15%) and former state Sen. Josh Brecheen (14%) after those two led the 14-way primary field. The runoff winner will be heavily favored in November against Democrat Naomi Andrews and Independent Bulldog Ben Robinson.

Statewide Races

Governor Kevin Stitt handily defeated three primary opponents in his reelection bid, garnering 69% of the Republican primary vote. In the Democratic primary, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister (61%) defeated former state Sen. Connie Johnson (39%).
Gentner Drummond (51%) narrowly defeated Attorney General John O’Connor (49%) to secure the GOP nomination for AG four years after a close defeat.
State Rep. Todd Russ (49%) and former state Sen. Clark Jolley (34%) will square off in a GOP primary runoff for Treasurer in August.
State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters (41%) and Shawnee Public Schools Superintendent April Grace (31%) advanced to an August runoff to determine the GOP’s Superintendent of Public Instruction nominee.
State Sen. Kim David (41%) and former state Rep. Todd Thomsen (26%) will face off in a GOP runoff for Corporation Commissioner.
Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn (48%) will go against state Rep. Sean Roberts (38%) in a GOP runoff for Labor Commissioner.
State Auditor Cindy Byrd (70%) defeated her primary challenger, Steven McQuillen (30%) and will retain her seat for four more years.

State House Races

While all 101 seats in the state House were up for re-election, 47 representatives (39 Republicans and eight Democrats) did not face challengers and were reelected by default. An additional 15 incumbents (all GOP members) were reelected on Tuesday and will not face a November general election. Seven open districts will feature runoffs in August.

House incumbents that won Tuesday that will not face a November general election, earning reelection to their seats included:

Rep. Eddy Dempsey (H1)
Rep. Josh West (H5)
Rep. Randy Randleman (H15)
Rep. David Smith (H18)
Rep. Sherrie Conley (H20)
Rep. Kyle Hilbert (H29)
Rep. Kevin Wallace (H32)
Rep. John Talley (H33)
Rep. Ken Luttrell (H37)
Rep. Tammy Townley (H48)
Rep. Marcus McEntire (H50)
Rep. Mark McBride (H53)
Rep. Anthony Moore (H57)
Rep. Rhonda Baker (H60)
Rep. Ross Ford (H76)

Two House Republican incumbents lost their bids for re-election (Reps. Logan Phillips and Wendi Stearman). Five winning candidates Tuesday are now Representatives-elect following their primary victories:

John Kane (R-H11)
Chris Banning (R-H24)
Josh Cantrell (R-H49)
Nick Archer (R-H55)
Arturo Alonso (D-H89)

House Republicans are guaranteed a minimum of 61 out of 101 seats and Democrats a minimum of nine seats. Thirty-one House seats will be determined by November’s general election.

State Senate Races

While 24 of 48 State Senate seats are up for election this cycle, only 13 seats were on Tuesday’s ballot. Incumbents Sen. Bill Coleman (R-S10), Sen. John Haste (R-S36), Sen. Brenda Stanley (R-S42) and Sen. George Young (D-S48) all won re-election and will not face a November general election. Republican candidates Todd Golihare (S12) and Jack Stewart (S18) won open seat races and will not face a general election.

Three Senate seats will proceed to an August runoff before moving to the November ballot. Those races include open seat races in SD2 (GOP runoff and general) and SD4 (Republican winner take all runoff), along with a runoff between Sen. Darcy Jech and challenger Brady Butler in SD26.

Sen. Jake Merrick (S22) was the only Senate incumbent to lose a seat on Tuesday, defeated by GOP challenger Kristen Thompson. Thompson carried 54% of the vote and now moves on to face Democratic candidate Blake Aguirre in November.

Senate Republicans are guaranteed a minimum of 35 out of 48 seats and Democrats a minimum of six seats. Seven Senate seats will be determined by November’s general election.

For full election results, visit: https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20220628

July Social Media Assets

In order to help your practices boost your presence on social media, we will be sending monthly social media cards and suggested text-copy for use on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Download this month's Pediatric Vision Month social media card via this Dropbox link. Email Heatherlyn@OAOP.org if you have trouble downloading the files.

Sample copy: One in four children has undiagnosed vision problems which can lead to behavioral issues and poor performance in school. Make sure your child has healthy eyes by scheduling a comprehensive vision exam.

Click above to view or place classified ads on OAOP.org!

Download the MyOAOP Mobile App

Make sure to download the My OAOP App to stay up-to-date on events, new resources, and member benefits at the OAOP.

My OAOP is a year-round engagement and event app designed to deliver personal and relevant content, facilitate networking and action, enable a direct line of communication, and amplify your member experience.

Click here to download the mobile app! Questions or Comments? Contact OAOP at 405-524-1075.

Support OOPAC

The Oklahoma Optometry Political Action Committee (OOPAC) is the tool we use to ensure support for optometry at the State Capitol. Our goal in 2022 is to raise $100,000 for this mission. Please donate generously and help us to elect and reelect lawmakers who value and understand quality vision care and the regulatory and legal framework needed to sustain it.

Click here to make a one-time donation and here to set up a recurring donation.

In the Know: Important News for Vision Health Professionals

Updated Covid Shots Are Coming. Will They Be Too Late?

Roseann Renouf, 77, has grown tired of the current generation of coronavirus shots. Having "never been one for a lot of vaccination," she decided to forgo the latest round of boosters after watching vaccinated friends contract Covid-19, even...

Read more
www.nytimes.com

HHS issues guidance on audio-only telehealth, HIPAA rules

Released by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on June 13, the guidance helps ensure patients' continued access to audio-only telehealth services while also clarifying covered entities'...

Read more
www.aoa.org