The Oklahoma Health Care Authority voted on June 26 to require higher patient copays for the 803,000 Oklahomans participating in the state’s Medicaid program, called SoonerCare.

The higher copays are part of a big belt-tightening exercise caused by federal and state funding decisions that left the agency about $104 million short of the amount of money needed to maintain existing services during the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The new copays are expected to generate $8 million in total savings, of which $3 million will accrue to the state. They affect a variety of SoonerCare benefits, including routine doctor exams and prescription drugs.

The new copay amounts are detailed in this memo.


Warren Vieth can be reached at wvieth@oklahomawatch.org


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