SoonerSelect Health Enrollment Opens on Feb. 1 with Value-added Benefits from Contracted Entities

Oklahoma City, OK – SoonerCare members moving to SoonerSelect will have the opportunity to choose their SoonerSelect health plans beginning Feb. 1. In addition to traditional SoonerCare benefits, each plan offers extra value-added benefits. Members can connect with choice counselors and review benefit guides to select the best plan to fit their needs.

“The transition to SoonerSelect marks a significant shift in the way many Oklahomans think about their health care,” said Ellen Buettner, Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. “Members will receive extra benefits that promote wellness both inside and outside of the doctor’s office, empowering individuals to lead healthy and productive lives.”

Approximately 80% of current SoonerCare members transitioning to SoonerSelect received a letter providing instructions on how to access the plans, compare benefits and make their plan selections. Members must select a health plan by March 10; otherwise, OHCA will enroll them in a plan on their behalf. Members have 90 days from the date of enrollment to change their plan.

OHCA provides choice counseling for SoonerSelect members, where counselors guide members through plan options, highlighting differences in benefits so members can pick the plan that best fits their needs. 

Members moving to SoonerSelect include children, low-income parents, pregnant women and Expansion adults ages 19-64. Eligible American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) members have the opportunity to opt into SoonerSelect. If AI/AN members do not opt into SoonerSelect, they will remain in their current SoonerCare program and will continue receiving services in the same way.

OHCA has contracted with three qualified and experienced entities to administer SoonerSelect health benefits. These entities are:

• Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma
• Humana Healthy Horizons
• Oklahoma Complete Health

Oklahoma Complete Health will also serve the children’s specialty program, which covers all Medicaid services, other than dental, for children in foster care, former foster care children, juvenile justice involved children and children receiving adoption assistance.

These contracted entities are dedicated to implementing comprehensive care coordination strategies designed to achieve several crucial objectives:

• Incentivizing and encouraging primary care.
• Reducing unnecessary emergency room visits by investing in early, preventive treatment. 
• Expanding the primary care provider and specialist networks.

All health plans will provide the same health care services currently offered by SoonerCare, including medically necessary prescriptions, health services and behavioral health services. Each plan also offers extra value-added benefits to improve health outcomes for members, including:

• Monetary incentives for attending well-child and annual primary care visits.
• Enhanced vision services for adults such as eye exams and funds for contacts or eyeglasses.
• Home-based asthma interventions such as deep cleaning carpet and hypoallergenic bedding.
• Nutrition support including meals or money to address food insecurity.
• Healthy weight incentives including memberships to local community organizations and gyms. 
• Legal assistance, including criminal record expungement.

SoonerSelect incentivizes health outcomes while maintaining oversight and authority over Oklahoma's Medicaid program and program funding. OHCA remains committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of SoonerCare members and will maintain rigorous accountability measures to hold SoonerSelect partners to the highest standards.

“OHCA’s commitment to whole-person wellness for SoonerCare members remains unwavering, and OHCA will promote the highest standard in health care delivery through SoonerSelect," Buettner said. "We're excited about the positive effect this will have on the health of our state and change the way future generations will use SoonerCare."

The implementation date for SoonerSelect health plans is scheduled for April 1, 2024. SoonerSelect dental plan implementation is Feb. 1, 2024.

Members can log into MySoonerCare.org to make their plan selection. For further information and updates, please visit oklahoma.gov/ohca/soonerselect/about.html.

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