As Oklahoma works to finalize budget, nursing homes could face significant cuts

A number of Oklahoma nursing homes may have to close if the state doesn't find revenue to fix a budget shortfall, according to KOCO.

Oklahoma lawmakers are currently working to finalize a budget after the state Supreme Court ruled a smoking cessation fee was unconstitutional.

As part of that effort, the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services asked the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to come up with a new budget for the agency, which lost $70 million in appropriated state funds as a result of the court ruling. The OHCA has proposed potential provider rate reductions "should no additional revenues be found." These rate reductions mean a 9 percent cut from Medicaid, according to KOCO.

The OHCA said the provider rate reductions will be effective Dec. 1 if its board gives the OK.

"The Oklahoma Health Care Authority continues to work hand-in-hand with the Oklahoma legislature and are optimistic that together we will continue to protect providers from rate reductions. However, we must also answer this request from OMES and provide a worst-case budget scenario," said OHCA CEO Becky Pasternik-Ikard. "We will continue to openly communicate these requirements with providers, the legislature and other stakeholders while reemphasizing that it is our goal to protect the program from further reductions. In the event the agency receives any additional funding this fiscal year, we can revisit these reductions and the budget we plan to file with OMES."

With the cuts, "it would make it nearly impossible for a number of homes to stay open and stay solvent," Nico Gomez, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, told KOCO. 

 

 

 

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