SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid) members in Oklahoma are served by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OKHCA), which is a government agency. The agency is the state-level counterpart to the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Governors, Senate presidents, and House members appoint the seven-member board, which operates under the direction of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The governor, with Senate approval, appoints the agency’s administrator, who serves as the agency’s executive director. The administrator serves at the governor’s discretion.
The agency was created in 1993 under Governor David Walters.
Oklahoma Medicaid guarantees coverage for essential health services and long-term care based on income and resources for eligible Oklahoma residents. SoonerCare is the name of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. Inside, we explain the difference between SoonerCare and Medicaid for Oklahoma residents. Each state has its own Medicaid program. Funded jointly by the federal and Oklahoma state governments, SoonerCare helps pay medical bills for people who can’t pay for themselves.
SoonerCare Health Management Program (HMP) members and primary care providers (PCPs) can access it through a contract with the Iowa Foundation for Health Care (IFMC). Launched in February, the program covers 65% of state Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in SoonerCare Choice, a primary care case management program.
Oklahoma residents who wish to apply must ensure they have their documents on time and then apply at www.mysoonercare.org or by calling 800-987-7767. Melissa Richey, communications manager for the Oklahoma Health Authority, said the agency wants Oklahoma residents to know that many people may not know that they are now eligible for SoonerCare.