As Oklahoma implements Medicaid work requirements, public asked to chime in

Aug. 14--shares

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The Oklahoma Health Care Authority will hold several public meetings hoping to hear from people who might be affected by a proposed change in Medicaid work requirements.

While the requirements are only expected to affect a few thousand people who meet certain criteria, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority will hear from people across the state. The agency hopes to get comments from those who would be affected by the change in SoonerCare, as well as potential community partners and other entities that would interact with recipients.

SoonerCare is the name for Oklahoma's Medicaid program.

The public meetings will take place over the next two weeks in Lawton, Norman, Oklahoma City, Enid, McAlester, Poteau and Tulsa.

With House Bill 2932 and an executive order signed by Gov. Mary Fallin, the Health Care Authority was directed to pursue modifications to Medicaid eligibility criteria so that SoonerCare coverage for certain populations is conditional on a person's education, skills training, work, or job status.

The waiver would require able-bodied adults who meet certain criteria to work 20 hours a week, engage in work-training programs or a combination of both to qualify for Medicaid benefits.

The bill excludes pregnant Medicaid recipients and would affect some 6,000 to 8,000 Oklahomans. If the proposal is approved by federal regulators, it would apply to people between 19 and 64 years old except for those who are pregnant, have a child under 6 years old or are providing live-in care for a disabled person.

Any changes must be approved by the federal government. Health Care Authority spokeswoman Jo Stainsby said the agency plans to submit the amendment by Oct. 1, with an effective date on or after Feb. 1, 2019.

There are still many questions left to be answered about how Oklahoma should try to adopt work or education requirements for some people on Medicaid, said Carly Putnam, policy director with the Oklahoma Policy Institute. The Health Care Authority, she said, must write the waiver without a road map because there are so few states that have similar requirements.

"Only four other states have had similar proposals approved, and all those were states that are Medicaid expansion states," she said, referring to the acceptance of federal funds to expand Medicaid coverage that Oklahoma turned down with the Affordable Care Act. "They really are trying to get a good sense of what it would take to do this, which is heartening."

Putnam said she hopes the final waiver request doesn't punish people who are trying to get a job or enter substance abuse treatment but can't.

The estimated number of people affected would likely rise and fall with the economy, she added.

"If we see another recession or another oil crash, we're definitely going to see more people who fall into that category," Putnam said.

The Health Care Authority also has limited or no experience with social services that help people get transportation, obtain child care, both of which might be necessary for people on Medicaid working just a few hours each week.

"We have other state agencies and community partners that have usually done that," she said. "I think it's going to be sort of a new and interesting period for the Health Care Authority to have been directed to begin taking on, or at least becoming responsive, to the needs in those areas."

Public hearings

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority will hold public hearings on Medicaid work requirements waiver at the following times and locations:

1. Aug. 16, 3 p.m.

Comanche County Health Department

1010 SW Sheridan Road, Lawton

2. Aug. 17, 3 p.m.

Norman Regional Health System -- Porter Campus

Education Center, Rooms ABC

901 N Porter Ave., Norman

3. Aug. 21, 1:30 p.m.

Variety Care -- Lafayette Clinic

500 SW 44, Oklahoma City

4. Aug. 23, 3 p.m.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rm. 131,

2929 E Randolph Ave., Enid

5. Aug. 24, 10 a.m.

Eastern Oklahoma State College -- McAlester Campus

1802 College Ave., McAlester

6. Aug. 24, 2 p.m.

Kiamichi Technology Center -- Poteau Campus

1509 S McKenna St., Poteau

7. Aug. 27, 3 p.m.

James O. Goodwin Health Center

5051 S 129th E Ave., Tulsa

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