Local Health Care Worker Voices Concerns Over Medicaid Expansion In Oklahoma

A local health care worker has sounded the alarm on the future of health care in the state, which could change starting on October 1.

She thinks the quality of care will decrease if Oklahoma moves forward with managed Medicaid expansion.

After firsthand experience working in a state with third-party managed care, Janell Johnson said she is pleading with lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 131.

If passed, it would halt privatization of the state’s Medicaid. But, those on the other side say Medicaid expansion will be long overdue quality healthcare for Oklahomans.

“We accepted a 24-week premature infant to our facility. They transferred him to our facility and we did everything right in caring for this baby. We helped it thrive and we were successful,” said Johnson, who works in patient access services with St. Anthony.

Johnson said this all happened at her previous job. She said they worked with the insurance company and filed everything necessary for the claim for the care but it was denied.

“They denied the insurance claim due to medical necessity,” said Johnson. “We had our medical director write a letter, saying if the patient didn’t receive this level of care and come to our facility, the patient wouldn’t have survived.”

The denial was still upheld in that instance, which leads Johnson to think some of these companies value dollars over things like lives.

But Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David thinks that Oklahomans' health care won’t be compromised with the expansion. He released the following statement below:

“OHCA has taken significant steps in reaching their ultimate goal of improving the lives of nearly one million Oklahomans currently in need of Medicaid by establishing proven public-private partnerships. These partners have the same goal in mind...to improve services and health outcomes for Oklahomans on Medicaid. Oklahoma has come in near last place for too long in health rankings. What our state has done for several decades is clearly not working, and we will not accept the status quo. I am confident OHCA will hold these new partners to the highest standard with the continued goal of improving the lives of Oklahomans on Medicaid.”

The bill passed through the state House, and now, it is in the Senate. If the bill does reach Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk and he chooses to veto it, lawmakers would need a 3/4ths majority to override the veto.