Medicaid-Birth Certificate Linkage Project

Oklahoma's Medicaid program, SoonerCare, is a health coverage program jointly funded by the federal and state government that provides health insurance for low-income people, including pregnant women. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is the state agency that administers the program.

Oklahoma Vital Records maintains the records for births that occurred in the State of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Health Division of Vital Records is responsible for registering every birth which occurs in the State of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Medicaid – Birth Certificate Linkage Project is supported by an inter-departmental agreement between the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health Service. Medicaid data contain a wealth of information on health conditions, diagnoses, procedures, as well as health care services provided to pregnant women and infants. Birth certificate data provide information on risk factors during pregnancy and birth outcomes. Linked Medicaid and Birth Certificate data complement the information included in birth records and Medicaid claims and provides a more complete picture of pregnancy and birth outcomes of Medicaid members.

The intended uses of the Oklahoma Medicaid-Birth Certificate Linkage Project include but are not limited to:

1. Identifying live births paid by Oklahoma Medicaid.
2. Assessing the maternal characteristics of mothers with Medicaid paid live births, their behaviors during pregnancy and at delivery, and related birth outcomes.
3. Comparing pregnancy risks and birth outcomes between the Medicaid and non-Medicaid populations.
4. Linking matched Medicaid-Birth data to other data sources (e.g. PRAMS, WIC) which provide a wide variety of information that is not currently available with the matched Medicaid-Birth data alone.
5. Conducting inferential statistical analysis of Medicaid-Birth matched data.

Oklahoma Medicaid-Birth Certificate Linkage Project provides opportunities to use Medicaid data in support of Maternal and Child Health Service by enhancing health assessment and evaluation of mothers with Oklahoma Medicaid paid live births. The information can be used to improve current state policies and programs to benefit Medicaid members in the State of Oklahoma.

Binitha Kunnel, MS
Administrative Program Manager

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Maternal & Child Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Email: MCHAssessment@health.ok.gov

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Phone: (405) 426-8092