Oklahoma doctors and clinics say they have gone months without SoonerCare reimbursements as routine contract renewals stall, leaving smaller practices juggling unpaid claims and patients at risk of interrupted care. Staff at OB-GYN and pediatric offices report claims lingering in the state’s provider portal while bills keep coming. The renewal holdup follows an executive order and a new attestation requirement for providers who see Medicaid patients.
As reported by KFOR, local OB-GYN Julie Strebel, the incoming president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said she “has received no reimbursement for SoonerCare patients since June.” Providers told the outlet they were instructed to complete the attestation, upload it to the SoonerCare portal to move contract actions forward, and were told they would be reimbursed for patients seen through the end of April.
What the Health Care Authority Says
According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, contracts with January 31 end dates were extended through April 30, 2026, while the agency processes provider files and system updates. OHCA also provides the attestation form and instructions on its site and notes that attestations previously submitted through other forms are being attached to provider records.
Why Providers Say Care Is at Risk
Clinics say this is not just a paperwork headache, it is a financial strain for small practices that run on thin margins. Strebel told KFOR she waited nine months to get a SoonerCare approval returned and warned that SoonerCare insures more than half of the state’s children and pregnancies, leaving maternal and pediatric care especially vulnerable if clinics cannot keep services going.
Politics, Proposed Fixes and Legal Questions
The attestation requirement stems from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Executive Order 2025-16, which directed OHCA to change credentialing and require provider certifications. The back-and-forth over that rule has drawn scrutiny from the agency board and state reporters. KGOU outlines that history, and legislators have introduced measures, including SB 1649, that would bar OHCA from requiring providers to submit such attestations, according to the bill summary.
What to Watch Next
Providers and lawmakers are watching to see whether the agency can clear the portal backlog before the April 30 contract extension deadline and whether the legislature or the courts intervene. In the short term, small clinics say they need faster fixes or temporary payment assurances if they are going to avoid cutting services to SoonerCare members.
