Articles
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
As TSET endowment grows, so do questions about spending
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) preliminarily certified $64.8 million for fiscal year 2018. These earnings come from the $1.2 billion endowment for TSET. As the endowment has grown, the scope of the trust has expanded from tobacco-related programs to some questionable areas.Curtis Shelton | November 7, 2018
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Health Care
Charting Oklahoma Medicaid growth over the past 20 years
In 2017, more than 1 million Oklahomans were on SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. Over the last 20 years, the state’s annual cost of the medical welfare program has increased from $536 million to more than $2.3 billion.Kaitlyn Finley | November 5, 2018
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Health Care
New Medicaid audits save taxpayers $250 million in Massachusetts
According to a new report issued by the Pioneer Institute, Massachusetts saved $250 million on administrative costs for their Medicaid program, MassHealth, by utilizing new automation methods in their audit process.Kaitlyn Finley | November 5, 2018
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Health Care
President Trump scales back Obamacare regulations, expanding health insurance choices
Recently, the Trump administration issued new regulatory guidelines regarding the use of Obamacare’s state innovation waivers. This new guidance allows Oklahoma more flexibility to potentially offer more types of health insurance plans that could increase choice and lower premiums for individuals and small businesses.Kaitlyn Finley | November 2, 2018
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Who’s like whom?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about which of the gubernatorial candidates is most like the current governor. Let’s look at it.Jonathan Small | October 26, 2018
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Health Care
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is an entitlement program created by the federal government and administered by the states that pays certain health care services for low-income individuals. Currently, Medicaid covers 71 million Americans and costs taxpayers more than half a trillion dollars annually.Kaitlyn Finley | October 16, 2018
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Shadow government spending
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) offers a radical example of dishonesty. But it is hardly unique among state agencies. Oklahoma’s entire state budget process is misleading.Trent England | May 30, 2018
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Health Care
SoonerCare enrollment skyrockets
SoonerCare is Oklahoma’s fast-growing Medicaid program. How fast? Since 2000, total annual enrollment in SoonerCare has grown from 416,785 to 1,052,826 enrollees.Curtis Shelton | May 14, 2018
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Health Care
To help needy Oklahomans, implement Medicaid audits
Annually, billions of dollars are lost—and stolen—from taxpayers and the truly needy through spending on ineligible Medicaid recipients. Some of the dollars are lost through outdated systems and auditing practices by the state, others through blatant fraudulent and criminal behavior.Tom Newell | January 29, 2018
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Health Care
To help needy Oklahomans, implement Medicaid audits
Annually, billions of dollars are lost—and stolen—from taxpayers and the truly needy through spending on ineligible Medicaid recipients. Some of the dollars are lost through outdated systems and auditing practices by the state, others through blatant fraudulent and criminal behavior.Tom Newell | January 23, 2018