Oklahoma Health Care Authority Eliminates Prior Authorization for Opioid Use Disorder Medication
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has removed prior authorization requirements for Brixadi, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, for SoonerCare recipients in Oklahoma. This change, part of a new value-based agreement, aims to reduce barriers to treatment…
Oklahoma City, OK, September 18, 2026 — The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has eliminated prior authorization requirements for the medication Brixadi for individuals enrolled in SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program. Brixadi is a medication prescribed for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
This policy change is part of a newly implemented value-based agreement. The stated objectives of this initiative are to reduce existing barriers that patients may face when seeking treatment for opioid use disorder and to align the costs associated with the medication to patient outcomes.
The specific details of the value-based agreement have not been fully disclosed. Information regarding the exact mechanisms by which medication costs will be tied to patient outcomes, such as specific metrics or timelines, was not provided. Similarly, the effective date of this removal of prior authorization requirements was not specified in the information available.
The OHCA’s decision aims to streamline access to a critical treatment for opioid use disorder, potentially enabling more SoonerCare recipients to receive timely and necessary care. Further details on the implementation and impact of the value-based agreement are anticipated.
Story summarized from the original created by Sierra Pfeifer, OPMX on www.kgou.org, see more information here.
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