Health Care, Law & Principles

HJR 1023 continues the success of work comp reform

May 14, 2026

Jonathan Small

For decades, Oklahoma’s Workers’ Compensation model was plagued by two critical flaws:

1. The system forced litigation to deal with workplace injuries.
2. The system spent more on litigation and non-medical costs than on medical costs.

During the time that Oklahoma was an outlier, and forced litigation for virtually all workplace injuries, Oklahoma saw many manufacturing and other labor-intensive jobs avoid or flee the state due to Oklahoma’s enormous costs.

Under Oklahoma’s notoriously litigious system, employees and doctors, two of the most critical parts to getting employees back to work, were shortchanged.

In 2013, Oklahoma lawmakers, small businesses, and those who knew Oklahoma could do better, passed landmark workers’ compensation reforms that have saved employees, employers, taxpayers, small businesses, and working families billions in out-of-control workers' compensation costs. This was done by converting to an administrative system, as most states utilized, which focuses the system on getting as many employees well and back to work as possible, while also adequately establishing medical provider reimbursement.

As is the case with any plan that includes complicated and complex parts, and medical care, from time to time, medical reimbursement levels necessarily need adjustment. HJR 1023 does just that by reasonably increasing medical reimbursement and protecting Oklahoma’s landmark workers’ compensation reforms.

We encourage policymakers to continue the support of Oklahoma’s landmark workers’ compensation reforms with the reasonable increase in medical reimbursement levels found in HJR 1023.