Federal judge orders higher Medicaid reimbursement rates

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A federal judge is ordering the state to increase the amount it pays doctors who provide services to the state's Medicaid recipients.<br/><br/>The ruling was handed down in Tulsa

Friday, May 20th 2005, 4:30 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A federal judge is ordering the state to increase the amount it pays doctors who provide services to the state's Medicaid recipients.

The ruling was handed down in Tulsa by US District Judge Claire Eagan. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority administers Oklahoma's Medicaid program and says the ruling means it will cost nearly $10-million more next year.

Eagan says the state must work with a financial consultant to implement a reimbursement rate to bring Oklahoma into compliance with federal law guaranteeing prompt access to services.

Eagan ruled in March that Oklahoma's Medicaid program was violating of federal law by not providing prompt access to medical treatment for 360,000 children who are Medicaid-eligible.