Oklahoma doctors warn of shutdowns as Medicaid payments stall under SoonerSelect
According to some doctors, privatizing Oklahoma's Medicaid program isn't going so well.Some Oklahoma lawmakers and physicians are sounding the alarm that our he Some Oklahoma doctors are warning of potential shutdowns due to delays in Medicaid payments under the new state Medicaid program, SoonerSelect, which has not been implemented as planned. The funding for these services has been delayed for around two months, with managed care organizations (MCOs) responsible for paying physicians for their services to Sooner Select patients. While urban and suburban physicians often serve patients with private insurance, these delays could make it difficult to find treatment outside of rural areas where there are large healthcare gaps. The delay of pay is considered a breach of contract by doctors and there are penalties in place for these delays. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority responded to the concerns.
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According to some doctors, privatizing Oklahoma's Medicaid program isn't going so well.
Some Oklahoma lawmakers and physicians are sounding the alarm that our healthcare system is on the brink of shutting down.
Dr. Kinion Whittington, an OB-GYN, said the new state Medicaid program, SoonerSelect, hasn't been rolled out as he and many other doctors have planned.
"Do you know any businesses that would stay open for two or three months serving people and not receiving payment, and are unsure if they will ever see payment or when it will occur? They close pretty rapidly," Dr. Whittington said.
While urban and suburban physicians heavily serve patients with private insurance, doctors said outside of the populated areas where there's already large healthcare gaps, it could get more difficult to find treatment.
"There are several clinics that serve rural folks who will be going out of business in the next two weeks, because they simply can't pay their bills and they have not received funding," Dr. Whittington said.
Doctors said for around two months the funding hasn't come from managed care organizations, MCO's, which are responsible for paying physicians for their services to SoonerSelect patients.
"The MCOs have to start paying out and catching up what they owe now," Senator David Bullard, (R)-Durant said.
Three MCO's contract with the state through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and doctors think the delay of pay is a breach of contract and there should be some accountability.
"There are penalties in place in the contract that the Oklahoma Health Care Authority should start looking at and make it the responsibility of the MCO's," Dr. Whittington said.
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority sent this statement to FOX25: