Legislature adjourns Sine Die

Posted on: 5/28/21

Oklahoma lawmakers wrapped up the first session of the 58th Legislature on Thursday, May 27. SB 131, which was sent to the governor’s desk last week, went into law without the governor’s signature at midnight on Wednesday. The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Act (i.e., MCO guardrail bill) puts into place protections for patients and providers that other states have fought years for after moving to an MCO model. 

On a related note, the governor signed SB 1045 on Monday. This bill authorizes directed payments as well increases the SHOPP fee by .5% every year until it hits 4% on Jan. 1, 2024. The bill also removes the current SHOPP sunset provision, which was set to expire in 2025. Albeit untenable to us given the federal government is providing the state with eight quarters of funding for Medicaid expansion, when suggested by OHA to utilize SHOPP as a backstop, we were rebuffed.

By no means is the fight against managed care over. The governor has already made his intention clear that he will seek changes to SB 131 next session, stating in part, “I have concerns that Senate Bill 131 will likely increase costs and limit our ability to improve health outcomes compared to the original plan I proposed and this bill could make it more difficult to detect waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicaid system.” 

While we know this is far from the truth, it is imperative that we continue to educate our local lawmakers about the importance of SB 131 and the dangers of managed care to the communities we serve. As we move into the interim, please continue the dialogue you fostered with your lawmakers during this session as we will need their support moving forward. (Scott Tohlen)