Oklahoma Health Care Authority announces SoonerCare coverage for at-home COVID-19 testing kits

For Immediate Release

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

Katelynn Burns, Director of Public Affairs
405-522-7266 | katelynn.burns@okhca.org

Oklahoma City, OK – SoonerCare members may now receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved at-home, over the counter COVID-19 testing kits at no cost to the member. According to guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, OHCA will reimburse contracted pharmacies that dispense the test kits to a SoonerCare member.

Members may receive select test kits from their pharmacy without needing to see their primary care physician. These kits will not have a co-payment and will not count against the member’s monthly prescription limit of six.

“We understand the importance of taking care of our SoonerCare members well-being, while also lessening the burden on emergency rooms,” said Dr. Terry Cothran, Senior Pharmacy Director at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. “If a SoonerCare member chooses to not use the at-home test kit, we encourage them to use other testing locations rather than the emergency room.”

At-home test kits use nasal swabs and provide results in often 30 minutes or less. Members are encouraged to contact their local pharmacy to ensure they have available tests. A pharmacy locator is available to search on OHCA’s website at https://apps.okhca.org:456/OHCAProviderDirectory/. SoonerCare also covers PCR testing and rapid-antigen testing at various medical locations for members who do not want an at-home testing kit.

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