Oklahoma Medicaid leader unveils ‘rebalancing’ proposal

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – With support from state health leaders, the head of Oklahoma’s Medicaid agency is proposing what’s being called a "rebalancing" of the program that could extend health coverage to 175,000 uninsured residents and trigger an infusion of federal funding.

Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Nico Gomez unveiled the plan Thursday for Republican legislative leaders and the governor’s top health officials. It also would involve shifting some 175,000 pregnant women and children who currently receive Soonercare onto the private market, where they would be eligible for federal tax subsidies.

Gomez cautioned that the proposal is just a framework and would require both federal approval and a state investment of around $100 million.

The plan comes just days after Gomez announced potential cuts of 25 percent in rates paid to Medicaid providers.