DHS change takes 27,000 off Medicaid

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ About 27,000 Oklahomans are losing their Medicaid benefits because of new procedures at the state Department of Human Services. <br><br>The new system at DHS, which determines Medicaid

Tuesday, August 27th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ About 27,000 Oklahomans are losing their Medicaid benefits because of new procedures at the state Department of Human Services.

The new system at DHS, which determines Medicaid eligibility, was meant to decrease the number of applications and interviews a client is required to do each year.

But some clients might have been confused by the changes and not provided requested information, said James Conway, a programs administrator for DHS.

Clients who are eligible and did not complete proper forms can return within 90 days to reapply for Medicaid, Conway said. Workers can back-date the certification so they don't lose benefits, he said.

Others were dropped for different reasons, including ineligibility, he said.

The department estimates 25,000 Medicaid cases were closed after the change, while the Oklahoma Health Care Authority says it's closer to 27,000.

Total enrollment in the state's Medicaid program for July was 471,110, said Nico Gomez, an Oklahoma Health Care Authority spokesman.

The authority wants to make sure that all eligible people have access to services, said Lynn Mitchell, state Medicaid director for the authority. She said she did not know how much money the agency would save as a result of the change.