Articles
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Health Care, Law & Principles
HJR 1023 continues the success of work comp reform
For decades, Oklahoma operated a workers’ compensation system that shortchanged both injured employees and their doctors while funneling money into lawsuits rather than care. HJR 1023 will help support Oklahoma’s landmark work comp reforms.Jonathan Small | May 14, 2026
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Stitt acts after Oklahoma Senate stalls immigration-verification bills
Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order requiring Oklahoma agencies to tighten immigration-status checks for welfare programs. The order mirrors legislation that passed the House but has stalled in the Senate.Ray Carter | May 7, 2026
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Health Care
As Medicaid expansion supporters cite poor results, lawmakers weigh reforms
Five years after Oklahoma expanded Medicaid to cover able-bodied adults, costs continue to climb sharply. State lawmakers are increasingly questioning whether the program has delivered on promises of improved health outcomes and stronger hospital finances.Ray Carter | April 15, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
OCPA: Time to send Medicaid expansion to voters
With the cost of Medicaid expansion exploding, lawmakers should send two state questions to voters that would allow for financial adjustment when needed.Staff | April 8, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Reform bills advance as Medicaid expansion threatens Oklahoma budget
With Medicaid expansion costs ballooning and warnings that a future shift in the federal match could saddle Oklahoma with an extra $1 billion a year, a state Senate committee has overwhelmingly approved two measures that would let voters reconsider the 2020 expansion.Ray Carter | April 7, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Oklahoma budget leaders say Medicaid expansion threatens school funding
Oklahoma lawmakers say the soaring price tag of Medicaid expansion for able-bodied adults has become a budgetary time bomb. Two proposed ballot measures would give lawmakers room to reform the program.Ray Carter | April 6, 2026
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Health Care, Good Government
Oklahoma lawmakers advance measures allowing voters to revisit Medicaid expansion
Oklahoma lawmakers have advanced two measures that would give voters a chance to revisit the Obamacare Medicaid expansion as surging program costs threaten to squeeze out funding for other services. Opponents argue lawmakers should instead raise taxes.Ray Carter | March 26, 2026
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Health Care
Medicaid-expansion follies show need for initiative-petition reform
Approved by a razor-thin margin in 2020 through the initiative-petition process, Medicaid expansion added hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults to Oklahoma’s welfare rolls and helped trigger a roughly half-billion-dollar budget shortfall.Jonathan Small | March 16, 2026
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Health Care
Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion has turned into a money pit
Five years after Oklahoma expanded Medicaid, none of the promised benefits have materialized. Rural hospitals aren’t thriving, state finances aren’t in a stronger position, and health outcomes haven’t improved.Jonathan Small | March 2, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Oklahoma’s Medicaid bill comes due
The Obamacare Medicaid expansion was sold as a program fueled by “free” federal dollars, but Oklahoma is now seeing the real bill. Spending at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has climbed by nearly $3.5 billion since 2020.Curtis Shelton | February 18, 2026