Business advocacy group asks to join lawsuit in Oklahoma

The State Chamber on Tuesday filed an application to submit a friend of the court brief in a lawsuit filed by Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland. The Chamber argues it should be allowed to join the lawsuit because its 1,282 members are directly impacted by the fee assessed on health care plans. The fee would be paid by insurance companies and companies that pay for health insurance plans for its employees. Holland's office would collect the fee for the state.

Attorneys for The State Chamber argue that "even though a vast majority of the Chamber's members are not insurance companies ... they are nevertheless swept up," by the bill that created the fee in the waning days of the Legislative session.

Last month, Holland filed a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to determine whether House Bill 2437 is a tax increase, which by state law would require approval by three-fourths of the Legislature. The bill did not receive a three-fourths majority when it was approved in May. HB 2437 was expected to generate $78 million a year that could be matched with federal dollars and help fund the state's Medicaid program. The bill takes effect Aug. 27, unless the Supreme Court intervenes.