Latest news with #Cornelius-Boyd
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Clock is ticking for Insurance Consumers Protection Act to be heard on senate floor before end of session
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The clock is ticking for House Bill 2144 to be heard on the senate floor with less than three weeks left in this year's legislative session. If signed into law, the bill would give patients and their doctors the right to sue medical companies who deny or delay care in bad faith. The Insurance Consumers Protection Act passed the house floor in March. It was then stalled, but because of News 4's reporting, it was put on the agenda for the Senate Rules Committee Meeting, passing with overwhelming support. Pat Hall is a spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Medical Association, saying 'It would make the health insurance companies wake up and realize that deny and delay of a medical benefit could lead to harm.' Homeland Security backtracks, KFOR uncovers new information on ICE raid Lacy Cornelius-Boyd has been fighting for her life and fighting against her insurance company after being in a devastating car crash. Cornelius-Boyd needs an intestinal transplant, but her insurance company has denied it more than once, adding to health challenges. She's now in kidney and liver failure. 'Since my car accident, I've been saying, like, something good has to come from this,' Cornelius-Boyd said. She's chosen to use her tragic experience to do something good, putting the issue on the radar of state lawmakers. However, the bill still has a long way to go. The legislation now has to be heard on the senate floor in a matter of weeks. 'What we're asking is for the public to continue putting pressure to pass House Bill 2144,' said Hall. Cornelius-Boyd is also urging Oklahomans to act. 'I feel like it's so important for everyone to stay invested. Keep calling. So that this bill can move forward,' said Cornelius-Boyd. If the bill isn't heard on the senate floor, it will not complete the full legal process to make it to the Governor's desk, which would be the final step getting the bill signed into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill aimed at holding health insurance companies accountable moves forward
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A bill giving Oklahomans the right to sue medical insurance companies was given new life after first being stalled at the state capitol. House Bill 2144 passed through the House floor with unanimous support in March, and it seemed the legislation was moving in the right direction, but as News 4 reported Wednesday, the bill was not heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee, leaving the bill in limbo as the deadline to hear bills was Thursday. After our initial story aired, things changed; the bill was on the agenda for the Senate Rules Committee meeting. Debate continues over declaring 'Christ is King' in Oklahoma It was heard Thursday morning and passed with overwhelming support, 17 to 2. 'I can't afford to take no, or I won't be alive, so it means a lot that people who don't have the voice or don't know what to do will have the back of this bill now,' said Lacy Cornelius-Boyd, who was denied a transplant. Cornelius-Boyd has been in a fight for her life, not just against her injuries, but against her insurance company. After a devastating car crash, she lost nearly all of her intestines. 'The average person has 35 feet of intestines, and I have about 35 inches left,' said Cornelius-Boyd. Her insurance company has denied a transplant several times, and now her kidney and liver are failing. 'I have a five-year-old, so it's hard for her to know that mommy's sick and I just don't have a normal life anymore,' said Cornelius-Boyd Her story is one that pushed the bill now headed to the Senate floor. If it becomes law, it would create the Insurance Consumers Protection Act, giving those the right to sue medical insurance companies that deny or delay care in bad faith. Some questioned and argued it could flood the courts and benefit more than just the patient, but supporters fought back. 'This is not about anti-insurance, and it's sure not about pro lawsuit, what this is about is pro citizen,' said Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. Sen. Carri Hicks also weighed in. 'There are very few patients who have the level of medical expertise to bring a compelling case, we also have to be mindful if patients are awaiting medical treatments, they are more than likely not at a financial position where they could also pay for that legal remedy,' said Sen. Hicks. For Cornelius-Boyd, it's never been about the money, she says it is about staying alive. 'I could care less about any amount of money. I want to be alive for myself, my husband, my family, my daughter. They deserve it and I deserve a chance to live,' said Cornelius-Boyd. If you would like to hear more about Lacy Cornelius-Boyd's story, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill aimed at holding health insurance companies accountable stalls at Capitol
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A bill that would have held health insurance companies accountable has stalled at the Oklahoma State Capitol. House Bill 2144 would have given Oklahoma patients the right to sue medical insurance companies if their health was affected by denied or delayed treatments. The measure passed off the House floor with unanimous support in March and it seemed the legislation was moving in the right direction. This week, the bill was not heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee and the deadline for bills to be heard in committee is Thursday, April 24. Representative Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City, authored the bill. He said he has heard of situations where Oklahomans have been impacted by denials of insurance companies while he introduced the bill on the House floor. 'Once the insurance company figured out the cost of the treatment, they pulled the authorization,' said Kannady, in March. Lacy Cornelius-Boyd of Yukon has been fighting with her insurance company for more than a year. Her life was forever changed after a car crash.'Most people have 35 feet of intestines,' said Cornelius-Boyd, who said after the crash she would need an intestine transplant. 'I have been left with 35 inches.' Her insurance company has denied the transplant several times. She said they have told her she can live just fine without it. Oklahoma lawmakers work across the aisle to address high eviction rates 'I'm in liver failure,' said Cornelius-Boyd. 'Not being able to drink water normally is damaging my kidneys. The hope is, if I can get the transplant sooner than later, I will not end up with a multi-organ transplant.' She said she has not been able to get the care she needs or help from her lawmakers.'I just expect people to do the right thing in the world. Doesn't work that way,' said Cornelius-Boyd. 'If it was their family or if it was him, they would want it. So it's very disappointing.' The Oklahoma State Medical Association has come out in support of the proposed legislation.'Many patients that we see every hour have these issues,' Dr. Sumit Nanda. 'I'm living this problem on a daily basis.' The bill was expected to be heard in the Senate committee this week but the chair of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, decided to leave the legislation off the agenda despite lawmakers' overwhelming support.'To have a bill that seeks to build in that consumer protection for individuals and give them give it some teeth, not be hurt, and it's unfortunate,' said Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. If you would like to hear more about Lacy Cornelius-Boyd's story, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
