Oklahoma officials are proposing radical changes to our Medicaid program, and they need to hear from you! SoonerCare, Oklahoma's Medicaid program, helps thousands of families in our state see a doctor or fill a prescription. Legislation and an executive order this spring required the state Medicaid agency to build a proposal to cut coverage for parents if they don't report working or volunteering enough hours. We know that most people on Medicaid who can work already do work, but this proposal could still have serious consequences for Oklahoma families if it’s approved by the federal government. - The proposal could trap families in a Catch-22. Parents in Oklahoma must be earning less than half the poverty level to qualify for SoonerCare. If they work more hours to meet this new mandate, they could lose their SoonerCare - and not have any other options.
- With this proposal, working families risk losing their coverage if they don’t fill out the right paperwork. However, this proposal gives almost no detail on how the state will manage that risk or what it would cost. These are crucial concerns, especially for parents with disabilities and chronic illnesses, who face dire threats to their health if they can’t navigate this bureaucracy successfully.
- Many Oklahoma parents will lose health coverage as a result if this proposal is approved. However, the proposal provides no estimates of how many. The purpose of SoonerCare is to provide access to health coverage for low-income Oklahoma families, but this proposal doesn't appear to consider the effect on the parents who will lose coverage. Oklahomans deserve to know how this proposal will impact them.
Public comments can shape policy. A federal judge cited public comments against a similar proposal in Kentucky when ruling that it violates the purpose of Medicaid. By filling out our survey, you can submit a public comment sharing your thoughts on this proposal! All comments must be submitted by September 3rd. Please also share this survey with anyone who you think would be affected or whose community would be affected. You can find more information and resources here. Best, David and the OK Policy Team | Oklahoma Policy Institute
907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005
Tulsa, OK 74120
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