During the second special legislative session held in mid-December, lawmakers approved an additional appropriation of $17.7 million to fund the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), including the state’s Medicaid program. These funds, coupled with the $22.8 million that was provided when Gov. Mary Fallin (R) approved sections of the appropriations bill on November 17, give the OHCA enough money to operate at current levels until April 2018. To officially withdraw the six percent across the-board Medicaid provider rate reductions that were approved by the OHCA Board on December 1 and scheduled to be effective January 1, 2018, the OHCA held a special board meeting on December 29 to reverse the proposed provider rate reductions.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.