Articles
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Health Care
Stitt names new DHS leader
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Tuesday he is appointing Justin Brown, the Oklahoma City owner of several assisted living centers, to lead the Department of Human Services. Like Stitt, Brown is a private-sector businessman who brings an outsider’s perspective to the position.Ray Carter | June 4, 2019
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Health Care
Expert says ‘sloppy research’ mars one defense of Medicaid expansion
Defenders of Medicaid expansion claim there’s no relation between expansion of that welfare program and the number of disabled individuals put on waiting lists for state services. But a national policy expert says research dismissing that connection has glaring methodological flaws and is a “political talking point in search of data.”Ray Carter | June 3, 2019
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Health Care
Mulready: Bills increase insurance choices
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready says this year’s passage of two bills to increase access to health insurance and give people protection against catastrophic events represent a small step forward in addressing Oklahoma’s health needs.Ray Carter | May 28, 2019
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Health Care
Gov. Stitt reiterates opposition to Medicaid expansion
Gov. Kevin Stitt reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion on Friday and discussed efforts to come up with an alternative plan to address Oklahoma’s health care needs.Ray Carter | May 24, 2019
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Health Care
Budget plan shows challenges of existing Medicaid program
Even as debate continues over expanding Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to include many able-bodied adults, details of this year’s budget agreement show the state continues to struggle to cover the costs of the existing program, which primarily serves those with severe disabilities, pregnant women, and low-income children.Ray Carter | May 20, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Lawmakers vow to ‘keep fighting’ for tobacco-fund reform
On April 19, Oklahoma received $69.7 million in tobacco-settlement funds of which $53.3 million went to TSET.Ray Carter | May 15, 2019
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Health Care
There is no pot of ‘free’ Medicaid money waiting to be spent
Expanding Medicaid will force more people to become dependent on government while potentially increasing federal spending by $3.4 billion. With the annual national deficit projected to grow to $896 billion this will increase the burden already placed on the younger generation.Curtis Shelton | May 14, 2019
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Health Care
Bill to expand insurance coverage quietly becomes law
Senate Bill 943, authored by leadership in both chambers of the Legislature, updates and aligns Oklahoma law with federal regulations regarding the creation of association health plans.Ray Carter | May 13, 2019
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Health Care
OCPA files legal challenge to Medicaid-expansion petition
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a free-market think tank, has filed a legal challenge to an initiative petition that would expand the state’s Medicaid welfare program, saying the proposal is unconstitutional and the petition gist is so misleading it violates state law.Staff | May 10, 2019
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Health Care
Thousands of disabled Oklahomans stuck on Medicaid waiting list
Thousands of Oklahomans with developmental disabilities may wait years to receive specialized home care through a waiver program under the state’s traditional Medicaid program.Kaitlyn Finley | May 9, 2019