OHCA Asks Providers to Help Prepare for End of PHE
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is encouraging SoonerCare beneficiaries to log into their accounts online to update information to avoid losing coverage when the public health emergency (PHE) expires.
During the PHE, Medicaid agencies have not been allowed to terminate coverage, but since PHE has been in effect, over 175,000 members have outstanding document requests. To help with those outstanding requests and avoid termination or a lapse in coverage, OHCA is encouraging members to:
- ensure their login and password work.
- If not, access account using a PIN.
- If PIN is lost, call now for PIN reset.
- login to their accounts and update:
- email addresses.
- phone number.
- income information.
- address.
- household information.
- SSNs for babies born in the last 2 years.
- any missing or outdated information.
SoonerCare is also asking providers to help by updating patients' case information, renewing cases now instead of waiting for the renewal date, and encouraging members to access their online account. Some members may not have touched their case for 3-6 years due to passive renewal and PHE. This will help members avoid calling in at the same time and having a long wait period for PIN Reset. Their PIN number can also be found on the top right corner of any “DET letter.”
CMS Vaccine Mandate - Phase Two Compliance Begins
Health centers in Oklahoma are expected to comply with “Phase Two” of the CMS vaccine mandate as of February 14. Under Phase Two (which runs through March 15), health centers will not be subject to enforcement action as long as:
- Their policies and procedures have been developed and implemented.
- At least 90% of staff/contractors/board members have received at least one dose of vaccine or have requested an exemption or delay.
- A plan for 100% of staff/contractors/board members to have either completed their vaccine series or be approved for an exemption/delay within 30 days.
To date, we have not heard of any CHCs who have been evaluated by an external body for their compliance with the CMS vaccine mandate. For more information on the CMS vaccine mandate in general, see the 1/14/22 CMS guidance and the CMS vaccine mandate toolkit. The toolkit is up to date, and the first page links to the slides and recording from a recent webinar from Colleen Meiman, PCA policy advisor.
Cybersecurity Agency Warns of Cyber Attacks
Last week, the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued alerts about the increased potential for cyber attacks as tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine. Experts agree that health care providers are a prime target for such attacks, as the on-going strains caused by the pandemic make them particularly vulnerable. (For example, new or exhausted staff are less likely to recognize a potential threat.) Federal officials pointed specifically to concerns about spear-phishing email. Given these concerns, health centers are advised to “adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting their most critical assets.” |
|