Time is running out to fight back against Oklahoma Medicaid, which has proposed to drastically cut the amount of hydrophilic catheters and closed system catheter kits its recipients can obtain per month.
Currently, Oklahoma Medicaid recipients are eligible to get up to 150 hydrophilic catheters or closed system kits per month. Soon, they may be limited to just 60 per month.
Closed system kits are designed to help reduce irritation, discomfort and incidences of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by providing all the necessary components for individuals to quickly perform a sterile catheterization.
Despite the proposed restriction, Oklahoma Medicaid recipients will be allowed basic vinyl catheters up to a total of 200 units per month.
However, according to Rob Roddy––a United Spinal Association member from Oklahoma and wheelchair user––the cuts will have a detrimental impact on people living with spinal cord injury (SCI), spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis.
“To limit this patient base to 60 closed systems is irresponsible at best and could lead to people requiring ‘assistance’ for daily functions as well as limiting their ability to be productive citizens who can function with high levels of independence,” explains Roddy, who also works as a Rehab Specialist for 180 Medical, a national provider of sterile use catheters, urologic and disposable medical supplies.
Restricting availability to certain types of catheters could lead to increased urinary tract infections (UTIs), higher out-of-pocket costs, and more trips to ERs and hospitals.
But Oklahoma Medicaid seems to think the impact will be small, citing that very few individuals in the state who receive catheters through Medicaid get UTIs.
“We have multiple Oklahoma practitioners that are going to rebuke Oklahoma Medicaid’s stance on catheter use and reported UTIs,” says Roddy, explaining, “If patients who reuse catheters average four UTIs per year and those who use one catheter per voiding episode have slightly less than one per year, then it would be reasonable to assume that if Medicaid had 800 patients who catheterize, then there would be approximately 650 to 750 infections per year at the very least.”
Roddy, who has recently traveled the country visiting SCI rehabs, hospitals, and clinics mentoring people with disabilities, believes that number will only increase given these new restrictions.
United Spinal urges our community to let Oklahoma Medicaid know that limiting access to urological supplies will negatively impact the quality of life and independence of many people living with disabilities.
You can submit your feedback to Oklahoma Health Care Authority or call Oklahoma Medicaid at 405-522-7300. Deadline is Thursday, January 12.
For more information on the Oklahoma Medicaid benefit changes, click here.
Further Reading: Oklahoma Medicaid Reducing Coverage of Catheters
Tom Scott
Staff Writer
The Grassroots Team
