Oklahoma Health Care Authority seeks public comment on draft Healthy Adult Opportunity application
Press Release
March 17, 2020
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Katelynn Burns, Sr. Public Information Representative
405-522-7266 | katelynn.burns@okhca.org
Jonathan Cannon, Sr. Director of Communications
405-517-1797 | jonathan.cannon@okhca.org
Oklahoma Health Care Authority seeks public comment on draft Healthy Adult Opportunity application
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is asking the public to weigh in on its draft application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Healthy Adult Opportunity demonstration waiver. The draft application was posted to the OHCA website Monday. It outlines the agency’s plans for implementing SoonerCare 2.0, Gov. J. Kevin Stitt’s health plan proposal to extend health coverage to qualifying adults.
The Healthy Adult Opportunity gives states unique flexibility to design a tailored program to serve an expanded adult population with Medicaid. The requested effective date for the Healthy Adult Opportunity demonstration opportunity is July 1, 2021, but newly eligible adults will be able to receive SoonerCare coverage beginning July 1, 2020.
The Healthy Adult Opportunity application is one of several pieces the agency is working on to implement SoonerCare 2.0. Earlier this month the agency submitted its state plan amendment to change the eligibility requirements for SoonerCare. That state plan amendment would add the new adult group ages 19-64 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, $34,846 annually for a family of four.
The draft Health Adult Opportunity application can be viewed here: www.okhca.org/SoonerCare2.
Public hearings
Hearings on the OHCA’s Healthy Adult Opportunity application will be held at later dates. Visit www.okhca.org/SoonerCare2 for the most up-to-date list of meeting locations.
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About the Oklahoma Health Care Authority
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority administers two health programs for the state. The first is SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. SoonerCare works to improve the health of qualified Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are available. Qualifying Oklahomans include certain low-income children, seniors, the disabled, those being treated for breast or cervical cancer and those seeking family planning services. The second program OHCA operates is Insure Oklahoma, which assists qualifying adults and small business employees in obtaining health care coverage for themselves and their families. Currently, there are 800,026 Oklahomans enrolled in OHCA’s programs. The agency contracts with a network of approximately 60,000 providers. For more information, visit www.okhca.org or www.insureoklahoma.org.