ROSECRANTS CONDUCTS MENTAL HEALTH AND MANAGED CARE INTERIM STUDY

The following information was released by the Oklahoma House of Representatives:

Monday, Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, conducted an interim study on Mental Health and Managed Care that explored what the legislature can do to make Oklahoma a better place for healthcare for those in need. The study was heard by the Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee.

The SoonerSelect managed care program, launched in April 2024, accounts for 56% of all Medicaid enrollees in Oklahomaabout 583,000 of the roughly 1,034,000 Oklahomans on Medicaid. This means that the majority of Oklahoma's Medicaid enrollees are on a managed care plan.

"Although I opposed the push for managed care when it came to us in the legislature, and while I still have strong reservations about managed care after the first year of implementation, especially in the mental health sector, this study is not about pointing fingers," said Rosecrants. "It's about listening, identifying what's working and what isn't, and finding constructive ways to ensure managed care actually fulfills the promise of better coordination, improved access, and more stability for providers and the patients they serve."

The study started with background on how Managed Care came into development. It featured presentations from Audra Deckard, MHr, Med, LPC, Myriad Counseling Solutions, LLC; Robert VanZant, LCSW-P; Dr. Randy Randleman, Eufaula Lake Family Development Center; Dr. Mary Ann Shepherd, OPTC Yukon Behavioral and Diagnostic Center; Christina Foss; and Haley Faulkenberry, Oklahoma Association of Health Plans.

The study explored solutions such as improving provider participation in insurance networks, raising awareness of parity rights for SoonerSelect enrollees, and ensuring more access to mental health and substance abuse services.