Breaking news: OHCA cancels managed care RFP

Posted on: 6/14/17

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority took action this afternoon to cancel the Request for Proposal (RFP) for SoonerHealth+, the fully capitated, statewide model of care coordination that has been in development for Oklahoma Medicaid’s aged, blind and disabled (ABD) population. An OHCA press release stated, “This decision was made in the best interest of the state due to the uncertainty surrounding both federal and state funding.”

House Bill 1566 passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in April 2015 directed the OHCA to initiate an RFP for a care coordination model for the ABD population. This RFP was issued in November 2016.

“In addition to the funds needed to maintain services at current levels, the agency requested approximately $52 million to fund the care coordination model. The additional request was not funded; therefore, the agency is unable to move forward with the RFP,” said OHCA CEO Becky Pasternik-Ikard.

Craig W. Jones, OHA president, praised the decision, saying, “We are exceedingly pleased that the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has taken action to cancel the RFP for SoonerCare+. In addition to the lack of funding, there remains too many unanswered questions and unaddressed concerns to proceed with the program.

“OHA continues its desire to improve the coordination and cost of care associated with this 18 percent of Medicaid enrollees incurring 55 percent of the program’s cost. Since the OHCA was directed in 2015 to issue an RFP, the transitional issues surrounding and impacting the funding and delivery of health care in Oklahoma have changed extensively. The implementation of SoonerHealth+ should not go forward until we can be certain the program will not pose risks to Oklahoma’s hospitals’ ability to serve the health care needs of their communities,” said Jones.