Administrative Letter 22-01

July 19, 2021 Administrative Letter 22-01

Dear Provider:

To effectively respond to the COVID-19 outbreak the state requires the flexibility to adjust provider rates to account for the increased risk factors associated with COVID-19, overtime and to ensure that essential services remain available for service recipients. Oklahoma has deemed it necessary to reimburse providers with an additional retroactive add on COVID-19 rate. This add on payment will apply to all services in which face to face contact is essential for beneficiary health and safety. The amount of the retroactive add on payment rate will be for the time period of October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 and will not exceed 20% of the provider’s current rate. Oklahoma is proposing a retroactive COVID-19 add on payment for the following services:

Adult Day
Agency Companion
Daily Living Supports
Extended Duty Nursing
Group Home
Habilitation Training Specialist
Homemaker
Intensive Personal Supports
Nursing
Prevocational
Respite
Specialized Foster Care
Supported Employment

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a great amount of financial strain on the provider community. Providers have experienced lockdowns causing non-budgeted overtime costs; increased cost for personal protective equipment and a tightening labor market. The proposed rate increase seeks to temporarily provide additional compensation to providers during the public emergency.

The services provided by these rates are available to recipients on the Medicaid In -Home Supports Waiver for Children, In-Home Supports Waiver for Adults, Homeward Bound Waiver, Community Waiver.

Beth Scrutchins, MSW

Director Developmental Disabilities Services