Oklahoma § 56-246 - HOPE Act – Eligibility verification – Independent vendors

§ 56-246. HOPE Act – Eligibility verification – Independent vendors

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Act to

Restore Hope, Opportunity and Prosperity for Everyone" or the "HOPE

Act".

B. Prior to awarding assistance under Medicaid, the Oklahoma

Health Care Authority shall verify eligibility information of each

applicant, excluding those applicants who would be eligible under

the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) and

excluding those applicants with intellectual disabilities receiving

Home and Community Based Medicaid waiver and state-funded services.

C. The information verified by the Authority shall include, but

is not limited to:

1. Earned and unearned income;

2. Employment status and changes in employment;

3. Immigration status;

4. Residency status, including a nationwide best-address source

to verify individuals are residents of the state;

5. Enrollment status in other state-administered public

assistance programs;

6. Financial resources;

7. Incarceration status;

8. Death records;

9. Enrollment status in public assistance programs outside of

this state; and

10. Potential identity fraud or identity theft.

D. The Authority shall sign a memorandum of understanding with

any department, agency or division for information detailed in

subsection C of this section.

E. The Authority shall contract with one or more independent

vendors to provide information detailed in subsection C of this

section. Any contract entered under this subsection shall establish

annualized savings that exceed the contract's total annual cost to

the state.

F. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Authority from

receiving, reviewing or verifying additional information related to

eligibility not detailed in this section or from contracting with

one or more independent vendors to provide additional information

not detailed in this section.

Added by Laws 2018, c. 3, § 1.