At the beginning of last week, legislators had two big policy issues to resolve before the end of session: The state budget and Medicaid. The job on Medicaid expansion was made easier by the availability of federal funds for use…
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By:
Dave Hamby
May 16, 2021 // Updated: May 16, 2021
FY22 budget agreement; Budget, managed care remain major items as session winds down (Capitol Update); Nickel and diming our justice system; Proposed tax cuts deflate decent budget proposal; Countdown to Care
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The Criminal Justice Policy Analyst researches and analyzes state policy issues related to criminal justice policy, processes and environment, particularly as it relates to fiscal issues and impacts on all Oklahomans, and collaborates with OK Policy team members and partners on criminal justice issues.
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By:
Dave Hamby
May 13, 2021 // Updated: May 18, 2021
As Oklahoma prepares to expand Medicaid coverage starting July 1, Oklahomans who are newly eligible for health care coverage need to know both that they are eligible to apply and how to apply for coverage.
To fill this information gap,…
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Time is closing in on legislators. The constitutional deadline for sine die adjournment is the last Friday in May, which this year May 28. But in the past few years the Legislature has recessed before the deadline to give itself…
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By:
Dave Hamby
May 9, 2021 // Updated: May 7, 2021
Rural Oklahomans frequently carry larger burden for court fines, fees; Are Medicaid patients overusing the ER?; Follow through on SQ 781 by funding treatment and rehabilitation services; HB 1775 would whitewash our history
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Our analysis suggests that rural Oklahomans are asked to pay just as much, and often more, than their urban counterparts. More worrisome still, urban areas like Tulsa and Oklahoma counties have the most difficulty in collecting fines and fees, meaning rural Oklahomans are effectively contributing more of their money to fund the court system as compared to their urban counterparts.
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Legislators concerned about rising health care costs should worry less about the health care practices of individual SoonerCare members and more about how we can most effectively provide health care for all Oklahomans through the SoonerCare program.
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Despite all the hoopla this session over the many politically charged bills dealing with wedge issues, there has been some truly positive legislation passed by thoughtful legislators. One of those signed by Gov. Stitt last week is Senate Bill 89,…
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By:
Lstrom
May 2, 2021 // Updated: May 2, 2021
What the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Means for Oklahoma (webinar); Policy Matters: Oklahomans deserve budget transparency; 2020 Census Evaluation Report: Understanding How Oklahomans Are Doing; New law provides academic, behavioral supports for students in need (Capitol Update); Privatized Managed Care: The Facts.
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