Oklahoma’s Medicaid reimbursement rates will be cut 6 percent across the board for providers and 1 percent for nursing homes on Jan. 1.
There are some exceptions to the provider rate cut, including child abuse exams, long-term care facilities, non-emergency transportation and private-duty nursing.
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority had been set to slash provider rates 9 percent and nursing home rates 4 percent as of today before actions in special session lessened the hit to their budget. The agency was set to lose $70 million dollars in state funding after the cigarette tax was struck down.
Authority board vice-chairman Tony Armstrong said their options were to approve the cuts or do nothing and hope a second special session solves their funding crisis.
"In order to preserve the netwok of providers that we have, in order to do those things for the recipients that we're challenged to provide care for, we have to make it work," Armstrong said.
Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, SoonerCare, provides health care to more than 825,000 low-income Oklahomans.
Oklahoma Hospital Association President Craig Jones said providers have taken a cumulative 18 percent cut over the past several years.
"I don't have to tell you what implications this has had for hospitals and other providers to provide care to communities," Jones said. "And to look at an additional 6 percent cut just means that hospital services are going to have to be further reduced if not eliminated totally."
Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers President Nico Gomez said he fears the worst.
"The reality is, this rate cut that you consider today, if it goes into effect, will likely be permanent, because of the expected timing of next special session," Gomez said. "I don't believe it will be reversed if it does go into effect. It'll become normal, much like a four-day school week has become normal."
