Oklahoma Medicaid agency looks at how to connect members to drug treatment

The state Medicaid agency will revamp its pharmacy lock-in program early next year, with a focus on making the program less punitive and more preventive.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which administers SoonerCare, Oklahoma's Medicaid program, started its pharmacy lock-in program in 2014 for Medicaid members who are at a high risk for prescription drug abuse and overdose.

The program locks a SoonerCare member flagged as high risk into only filling prescriptions for controlled substances, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, at one specific pharmacy. They also must receive the drugs from only one physician.

However, when a SoonerCare member is placed in the lock-in program, a problem emerges: Oklahoma's Medicaid program does not generally cover inpatient drug treatment for adults.