07/05/2020
Oklahoma children face millions in funding cuts for therapy.
On June 26th, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) proposed reducing funding by 15% for many providers that serve our state’s most vulnerable children. Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Speech-Language Pathologists in their first year after graduation will all have their funding cut by 15%. This funding cut will result in reducing access to care for Oklahoma children, job losses for many therapists, and may even permanently close therapy practices that are struggling to survive COVID.
To be clear, OHCA does not want to make these cuts. State budgets are tight due to COVID and the medicaid expansion will make them even tighter. OHCA does a great job funding healthcare for many Oklahomans but they can only operate with the budget they are given. We need to let them know we are against balancing the budget by reducing therapy for our children.
How can you help?
There are 4 ways to help us protect funding for therapy for children.
1. Learn our talking points
"I am opposed to OHCA cutting funding for therapy for children."
"Cutting funding will reduce access to care for children, hurt our job market for therapists, and threaten the survival of therapy practices recovering from COVID"
2. Let OHCA know
Go to https://www.okhca.org/xPolicyChange.aspx?id=24883&blogid=68505 and leave a comment. Let OHCA know that you are opposed to cutting funding for therapy for children. If this will impact your job or your therapy practice, let them know.
3. Contact your Legislator
Go to http://www.oklegislature.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx and type in your address to find and contact your State Senator and your State House Representative.
Let them know you are opposed to "OK State Plan Amendment
20-0020", OHCA's plan to cut funding for therapy for children.
Let them know you are against them voting to cut any funding to OHCA to balance the budget.
Let them know that these cuts will hurt Oklahoma jobs and businesses.
After your conversation, post the results of your call in the comments on this post.
4. Share this post with everyone you know
The cuts impact children all over our state. They will also drastically impact the job market for many therapists and may even cause some practices to shut their doors. We need your help to make sure OHCA does not cut funding for therapy for children.
Want to do more?
Email federal.authorities@okhca.org and let them know your thoughts on the proposed funding cuts.
Email publiccomment@okhca.org and request 2 minutes to speak at the upcoming OHCA board meeting where they will vote on this issue.