OKLAHOMA CITY – Two new Oklahoma Health Care Authority policies will increase SoonerCare members’ access to care and lower OHCA costs.

The new policies include adding diabetes self-management training as a SoonerCare benefit and establishing registered behavior technicians as SoonerCare providers. The policies were enacted by emergency rules that Gov. J. Kevin Stitt signed earlier this month.

“Our core mission at OHCA is to find ways to improve services for our members and providers and act responsibly with taxpayer funds. Adding these new policies ultimately increases SoonerCare members’ access to services,” said OHCA CEO Kevin Corbett.

The first policy change establishes diabetes self-management training as a new benefit for SoonerCare members with diabetes. The training is an educational disease management benefit designed to teach members how to successfully manage an

d control their diabetes. Effective self-management training reduces hospitalizations and improves management of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes self-management training also lowers costs, with the cost of care 5.7% lower for individuals who receive the training compared to those who do not.

The second policy change establishes registered behavior technicians as SoonerCare providers.

The policy outlines provider qualifications and notes that a board-certified behavior analyst must provide oversight for the technicians. Registered behavior technicians will now provide direct services to SoonerCare members who qualify for applied behavior analysis services.

Adding additional resources will help prevent or minimize inpatient visits, resulting in cost savings while increasing access to care.

If you are a SoonerCare member or provider and have questions about these changes, please contact the SoonerCare Helpline at 800-987-7767 or visit www.okhca.org.