SoonerCare provides healthcare services for low income people.
While the program has grown by 50,000 since January, some of its services could be eliminated, that's because the organization that overseas SoonerCare, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, is looking at making $26 million in cuts.
Dentist Dr. Ray Barnum knows how beneficial the SoonerCare program is. About 60% of his patients are part of the program.
"A lot of the people that come in that are SoonerCare have a history of not having dentist for a while, and they have complicated medical histories a lot," said Dr. Ray Barnum.
But the Oklahoma HealthCare Authority board is considering getting rid of the adult dental program to save money.
Barnum says that will leave many with nowhere to go.
"If they go to an emergency room with a toothache that's not going to help them much because the emergency room can't do much for them," said Dr. Barnum.
Also on the chopping block, occupational therapy.
Dr. Donald Barney sees SoonerCare patients and says cutting this program could keep people out of work longer, and he says that could cost taxpayers more in the long run.
"If we can repair them to the point that they can go back to a job or get a job that's in our benefit," said Dr. Donald Barney, an occupational therapist.
The board is also considering cutting back on prescriptions.
All these cuts come at a time when demand is up.
In fact, more than 670,000 Oklahomans are part of SoonerCare, that's up by 50,000 people from January.
Doctor Darnum says that's proof the need is there, and he just hopes he and other doctors can continue to help meet it.
"Are we going to provide something for them or are we not? I mean that's just the choice," said Barnum.
The Oklahoma HealthCare Authority board will vote on the recommended cuts at OSU-Tulsa December 10th.
See the above attachment for a list of all the recommended cuts.
