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As Oklahoma prepares for a likely statewide vote in 2020 on dramatically expanding the Medicaid entitlement to cover hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults, the state is ironically ahead of national trends in controlling the expansion of a second entitlement program—food stamps—for a similar population.

Health insurance cost increases in Oklahoma were less than in most states, which indirectly undermines a key claim of Medicaid-expansion supporters.

Over the past 20 years, Medicaid’s share of total state spending has grown faster than any other category of state spending.

Medicaid expansion has been touted as a way to shore up financially troubled rural hospitals, but at a recent legislative study, lawmakers learned the beneficiaries of Medicaid expansion may include management companies that have run several rural Oklahoma hospitals into the ground.

In a recent interview, Gov. Kevin Stitt expressed his disapproval of State Question 802, calling it “problematic” and “Plan F” for the state.

Thrive, an OKC organization that works on teen-pregnancy issues, prominently lists the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) as one of seven partners on its website. A spokesperson for the OHCA, downplayed any ties between the agency and Thrive.

Expanding Medicaid would greatly increase the federal government’s control over Oklahoma’s state budget. If Oklahoma chose to expand Medicaid it could increase the federal government’s share of the state budget to over 50 percent.

To combat the problem of “surprise” medical bills, experts encouraged Oklahoma lawmakers to ban “balance billing” Oklahoma consumers and to increase health-care price transparency.

Some Oklahoma lawmakers have proposed a plan to expand Medicaid eligibility through the Insure Oklahoma program. But Oklahoma Senate Bill 605 and similar iterations, known as the “Oklahoma Plan,” are just a ploy to implement Obamacare Medicaid expansion in the Sooner State and shift hundreds of thousands of able-bodied, working age adults onto Oklahoma’s Medicaid rolls. The plan has three major components: (1) massively increase spending to implement Obamacare Medicaid expansion by way of premium assistance; (2) create a brand new welfare program for 628,000 able-bodied adults; and (3) propose a program that other states have found to be twice as expensive as predicted and with no measurable performance goals or changes in health outcomes. Oklahoma policymakers should reject Obamacare Medicaid expansion, SB 605, or any other plan to “access federal dollars” that expands welfare, and instead refocus their efforts on improving the Medicaid program for the most vulnerable and promoting meaningful health care reforms.

Tennessee announced it is seeking to cap total Medicaid spending by utilizing block grants. If the state’s proposal is approved by the Trump administration, other states would likely follow suit.