Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-5006: Oklahoma Health Care Authority - Creation - Powers and

duties - Personnel.

A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The Authority shall have the power and duty to:

1. Purchase health care benefits for Medicaid recipients, and

others who are dependent on the state for necessary medical care, as

specifically authorized by law;

2. Enter into contracts for the delivery of state-purchased

health care and establish standards and criteria which must be met

by entities to be eligible to contract with the Authority for the

delivery of state-purchased health care;

3. Develop a proposed standard basic health care benefits

package or packages to be offered by health services providers, for

Medicaid recipients;

4. Study all matters connected with the provision of state-

purchased and state-subsidized health care coverage;

5. Develop and submit plans, reports and proposals, provide

information and analyze areas of public and private health care

interaction pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Health Care

Authority Act;

6. Serve as a resource for information on state-purchased and

state-subsidized health care access, cost containment and related

health issues;

7. Administer programs and enforce laws placed under the

jurisdiction of the Authority pursuant to the Oklahoma Health Care

Authority Act, and such other duties prescribed by law;

8. Collaborate with and assist the Insurance Commissioner in

the development of a Uniform Claim Processing System for use by

third-party payors and health care providers;

9. Collaborate with and assist the State Department of Health

with the development of licensure standards and criteria for pre-

paid health plans; and

10. Exercise all incidental powers which are necessary and

proper to carry out the purposes of the Oklahoma Health Care

Authority Act.

B. All positions within the Authority shall be unclassified

until approval of the annual business and personnel plan submitted

by January 1, 1995, by the Governor and the Legislature. In the

annual business plan submitted January 1, 1995, the Board shall

include a personnel plan which shall list, describe and justify all

unclassified positions within the Authority and their compensation.

All other employees and positions shall be classified and subject to

the provisions of the Merit System of Personnel Administration as

provided in the Oklahoma Personnel Act.