Waiver Approval Increases Ability to Provide Mental Health and Addiction Services in Oklahoma 

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: 
Melissa Richey, Chief of Communications
405-982-8707 | melissa.richey@okhca.org

Katelynn Burns, Senior Media Relations Professional
405-522-7266 | katelynn.burns@okhca.org

OKLAHOMA CITY – More Oklahomans will now be able to receive mental health and addiction services thanks to a recent federal waiver bringing more unity to the treatment of behavioral health illnesses. Oklahoma is one of only seven states to receive an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) waiver for serious mental illness and addiction from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

The waiver is typically sought after by states to address either mental health or addiction issues. This was a joint effort between the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The waiver gives the state authority to provide medically necessary residential treatment, facility-based crisis stabilization and inpatient treatment services, within IMDs, for Medicaid beneficiaries with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance and/or substance use disorder diagnoses.

“With Medicaid expansion beginning July 1, many Oklahomans with behavioral health disorders will be able to access the appropriate care at the right place when they need it,” said Kevin Corbett, Secretary of Health and Mental Health and CEO of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The IMD exclusion limited Medicaid reimbursement for large, free-standing psychiatric hospitals and crisis stabilization units were capped at 16 patient beds. That cap is now waived, which will allow for the facility-based stabilization of more Oklahomans in crisis due to mental health or addiction issues.

Viewed by many mental health advocacy groups as discriminatory, the IMD exclusion has been a controversial policy primarily because it was based on the location where services are delivered as opposed to medical necessity. 

“Frankly, the practice is unfair,” said Carrie Slatton-Hodges, ODMHSAS Commissioner.  “The waiver is something we have been pursuing for some time now and by improving access to crisis care, we will see a reduction in behavioral health admissions to emergency departments and inpatient hospital settings.” 

Through this project, high-intensity services supporting the full continuum of care – from detox to inpatient treatment – will provide better outcomes, support recovery and reduce health care costs for Medicaid beneficiaries.

“Addiction and mental illness are considered diseases of the brain and should be treated as any other disease,” said Traylor Rains, OHCA Deputy State Medicaid Director. “Approval of the waiver recognizes that and promotes parity for behavioral health disorders.”

To find provider services near you, visit Oklahoma.gov/ohca or www.odmhsas.org and use the available service locator function, or call 211 from anywhere in the state.

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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 827,657 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.