Oklahoma § 56-1011.8 - Program to encourage use of primary care services in

§ 56-1011.8. Program to encourage use of primary care services in

lieu of emergency room services.

A. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the State Department

of Health, subject to the availability of funds, may develop and

administer a program to encourage the timely and appropriate use of

primary care services in lieu of emergency room utilization. The

Authority and the Department may collaborate with city-county and

county health departments and other relevant stakeholders in the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

development of the program. The program may include, but not be

limited to, the implementation of:

1. Educational strategies to increase health literacy for

participants in the Oklahoma Medicaid Program;

2. Technology-based monitoring;

3. Co-payment structures and other payment arrangements; and

4. Other policy proposals to improve the delivery of health

care services to Medicaid enrollees.

B. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority may develop a pilot

program utilizing state-licensed health care professionals to

perform educational interventions with consumers who highly utilize

emergency room services or to perform other services to reduce

unnecessary emergency room visits.

C. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall develop and

implement a telephone information health line pilot program under

which physicians are available by telephone twenty-four (24) hours a

day to answer medical questions and provide health information for

the Medicaid population. If the Health Care Authority determines

that the pilot program reduces unnecessary emergency room visits and

the pilot program demonstrates a net cost-savings, the Health Care

Authority shall expand the program into a statewide initiative.

D. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the State Department

of Health shall evaluate and report findings relevant to the

provisions of subsection A of this section to the Governor and the

Legislature by January 1, 2019.

Added by Laws 2006, c. 315, § 8, emerg. eff. June 9, 2006. Amended

by Laws 2017, c. 322, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.