(a) Application.  An application for categorically needy pregnant women and families with children consists of the SoonerCare application.  The application form is signed by the individual, parent, spouse, guardian, or someone else acting on the individual's behalf.  A categorically needy individual does not have to have received a medical service nor expect to receive one to be certified for SoonerCare.

• (1) An application may be made in a variety of locations, for example, a physician's office, a hospital or other medical facility, Health Department, in the county  OKDHS office, or online.  A face to face interview is not required.  Applications are mailed to the OHCA Eligibility Unit. When an individual  indicates a need for SoonerCare, the physician or facility may forward an application to the OHCA Eligibility Unit for processing.  If the applicant is unable to sign the application, someone acting on his/her behalf may sign the application.
• (2) OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB), Notification of Needed Medical Services, is required only for preauthorization of medical services.  Although not required, the form may be submitted by the physician or facility as notification for a need for medical service.  The form also may be accepted as medical verification of pregnancy.
• (3) Receipt of the SoonerCare Application form or OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB) constitutes an application for SoonerCare.
• (4) If OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB) is received and a SoonerCare application cannot be completed, receipt of OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB) constitutes an application which must be registered and subsequently denied.  The applicant and provider are notified by computer-generated notice.

(b) Date of application.  When an application is made online, the date of application is the date the application is submitted online.  When application is made in the county office, the date of application is the date the applicant or someone acting on his/her behalf signs the application form.  When the application is initiated outside the county office, the date of application is the date the application or OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB) is stamped with the date the application was received into the OHCA Eligibility Unit.  When a request for SoonerCare is first made by an oral request to the county office, and the application form is signed later, the date of the oral request is entered in "red" on the application form above the date the form is signed.  The date of the oral request is the date of application to be used.  When OKDHS form 08MA005E (.doc, 3 pp, 609 KB) is received in the OHCA Eligibility Unit prior to the completion of the application form, the date that OKDHS form 08MA005E is received is considered as the date of application and must be registered as an application.  Certain providers may take applications and then forward them to the OHCA Eligibility Unit for SoonerCare eligibility determination.  Under this circumstance, the application date is the date the applicant signed the application form for the provider.