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ME 211515

January 26, 2018
The Honorable Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21244

Dear Administrator Verma:

We write to encourage the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expedite
consideration of Oklahoma?s Medicaid 1115 waiver amendment which was submitted on Friday,
January 19, 2018.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has worked judiciously with the University of
Oklahoma (0U), Oklahoma State University (OSU) and tribal partners to develop an amendment
to its 2018 waiver which was approved at the end of last year. Approval of this amendment is
needed to maintain access to healthcare services for 25 percent of Oklahoma?s Medicaid
population or 200,000 lives.

The waiver amendment was submitted with special attention to the speci?cations that were
outlined to the state by CMS in a document titled ?Potential Avenues for Payments? (January 3,
2018). All elements of this document are addressed within the waiver amendment itself or within
supporting documents submitted. This amendment, which meets all the necessary budget
neutrality standards, underpins the SoonerCare Choice delivery system which has saved the State
and Federal government billions during its existence. The partnership and corresponding
supplemental ?rnding clearly aligns with the goals of the demonstration waiver.

It is our understanding that the minimum timeline for approval that has been communicated to
the state is 60 days: 15 days to acknowledge appropriate submission, 30 days for CMS public
comment and 15 days to review comment received and to render a decision. This timeline will
cause formidable harm to Oklahoma?s healthcare system. CMS has been making payments to
support these physician residency programs, and the roughly 1,400 physicians these programs
employ, for more than 20 years. We strongly encourage CMS to take into account the harm a
further lapse of funding would cause and expedite consideration of Oklahoma?s
amendment. We also request that CMS strongly consider retroactively approving the
amendment to January 1, 2018.

PR NTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

The federal government?s investment in these programs is well placed due to both short-term
effects on access and long-term effects on physician availability, especially in underserved and
rural areas. We hope that you will address these issues and appreciate your

consideration.
James M. Inhofe

??fJamesL fori 
US. Senator U.. nator 

4 ?5l Cu-

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Markwa Mullin Tom Cole

Member of Congress Member of Congress
rank D. cas Steve Russell

Member of Congress Member of Congress