OHCA acts on emergency rules regarding managed care

Posted on: 9/3/21

On Aug. 26, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority board, in an emergency meeting, took up emergency rules for several items, including rules to implement SB 131, the MCO guardrail bill for SoonerSelect. The OHCA decided to proceed with rulemaking even though the Supreme Court ruled that SoonerSelect contracts were void, leaving SB 131 unenforceable. (SB 131 specifically referenced the SoonerSelect contracts.) 

OHA provided public comments at the meeting, as did representatives from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians, and the Alliance of Mental Health. Everyone in the health care coalition did a great job articulating the positions of their members in two minutes or less. The OHCA board voted to pass to the governor emergency rules on purchasing and Medicaid expansion. The board tabled the rules on grievances and SB 131 implementation. The vote on tabling passed 7 yes, 1 no. We anticipate that at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board at 3 p.m. on Sept. 20, the tabled rules will again be on the agenda. Dr. Jean Hausheer (Lawton) asked for an item to be on the agenda for the next meeting asking the Oklahoma Attorney General to clarify the authority the board. 
 
For a copy of the rules that were considered and the agenda, click here.
 
We are once again in a waiting period to see what happens at the OHCA board meeting on the Sept. 20. Director Kevin Corbett said during the Aug. 26 board meeting that no decision had been made by the agency or the governor on proceeding with third party managed care. We appreciate you allowing us to represent you in these matters. (Sandra Harrison)