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New from OK Policy
We’re hiring for two new positions – a Storybanker and an Administrative Assistant: The Oklahoma Policy Institute is hiring for two new positions to support our mission of advancing equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahomans. [OK Policy]
Tulsa World Political Notebook: Together Oklahoma plans to lobby on behalf of Medicaid expansion beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the state Capitol. [Tulsa World]
In The News
Stitt pressing lawmakers to fund alternative option: With a traditional Medicaid expansion ballot measure looming, Oklahoma’s governor is pressing the Republican-controlled Legislature to fund his alternative option by Friday, March 6. Despite only unveiling his plan Jan. 30, Gov. Kevin Stitt has given the cash-strapped Legislature only a few more days to come up with the $150 million necessary to push SoonerCare 2.0 forward, lawmakers say. [CNHI / Tahlequah Daily Press] Stitt reveals a few more details of his Medicaid expansion proposal. [Public Radio Tulsa] OK Policy: Lawmakers have had nearly a decade to decide how to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma; we renew our call on the governor’s office to respect the will of Oklahoma voters by setting an election date for SQ 802, which calls for full Medicaid expansion.
State lawmakers divided on how to pay for Medicaid expansion: Oklahoma lawmakers appear to be divided on party lines about how to pay for Oklahoma’s share of Medicaid expansion. Legislators got their first glimpse last week at one way they could fund the state’s 10% share. State lawmakers will have to appropriate up to $150 million to match the roughly $1 billion in federal funding Oklahoma could receive to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income adults. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy: A 2018 study estimated that Medicaid expansion would require about $110 million in additional state spending per year, while injecting $1.1 billion of federal funds into the Oklahoma economy annually.
‘Devil is in the Details’ 2020 Vision: Integris, St. Mary’s heads talk state of health in Enid: With Medicaid expansion on the horizon — either by state question or legislative action — administrators at both St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Integris Bass Baptist Health Center are confident health care in Enid is well-positioned to serve the public, even if questions remain about how Medicaid expansion might come to pass. [Enid News & Eagle] OK Policy has provided information and resources to better understand the issues around SQ 802, which calls for full Medcaid expansion.
‘I could not believe it’: Lack of mental health parity leaves families looking for answers: Virginia Holleman’s fight for coverage is indicative of many families looking for answers from insurance providers when it comes to mental health coverage. She was given multiple reasons for denial, but her insurer’s main reason was that treatment wasn’t medically necessary because her son wasn’t suicidal or homicidal. [The Oklahoman / USA Today] Some Oklahoma lawmakers want health insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use disorders the same way they cover physical ailments. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy: Expanding health care coverage can help address substance use disorders, which are a public health crisis in Oklahoma.
Tulsa jail’s opioid detox program a life-saver for addicts: ‘That’s why I feel so blessed’: The Tulsa County jail is the first in Oklahoma to offer a medication-assisted treatment program — or opioid replacement therapy — for people who are incarcerated and addicted to opioids. There were 58 patients in January enrolled in the program, known as MAT, after its launch in December. [Tulsa World]
Redistricting petition again draws legal challenge: Two new legal challenges were filed Friday against a state question seeking to create an independent redistricting commission. The two new legal challenges filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court come after the state’s high court on Feb. 5 tossed out the redistricting petition based on gist but found another challenge that it violated the single subject rule was without merit. [Tulsa World]
Gov. Stitt says nontribal casinos would mean more money for state: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday again raised the possibility of bringing nontribal casinos to the state, telling the Tulsa World, “Let me bring commercial casinos in, give out just four commercial licenses, and it would be $350 million to the state.” Stitt, who is under a federal gag order, quickly clarified he was speaking hypothetically in response to a question about states that receive nothing from tribal gaming. [Tulsa World]
Epic Charter Schools’ Learning Fund targeted by lawmakers who seek increased transparency, accountability: Some lawmakers and state officials reacted to the revelation that Epic Charter Schools is shielding how it uses millions in taxpayer dollars for something called the Learning Fund by saying more regulation is needed to require full transparency and accountability. [Tulsa World]
Deadline kills legislation on minimum wage, Daylight Savings Time, among others: Thursday’s first legislative deadline consigned almost three-fourths of the 5,200 bills and joint resolutions available for consideration this legislative session to the digital beyond, including every effort to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage, eliminate Daylight Savings Time and prevent anything not produced by the mammary glands of a four-legged animal from being called milk. [Tulsa World] (Audio) Capitol Insider: Bill Deadline Passes, What’s Next? [KGOU]
Oklahoma could honor out-of-state work licenses: A Republican state lawmaker wants Oklahoma to automatically recognize professional licenses and certifications granted by other states. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, introduced legislation for Oklahoma to implement so-called universal licensing, which would allow skilled workers who move in state to practice their trade without having to obtain a new license. [The Oklahoman]
Sneed’s bill could end surprise medical billing: State Rep. Chris Sneed (R-Fort Gibson) secured passage of a bill he says will end surprise medical billing for Oklahoma residents. House Bill 3388 passed the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday and is now eligible to be considered by the entire House. [Muskogee Phoenix]
Abortion shaping up to be major issue for rest of Oklahoma legislative session: Measures classifying abortion as homicide and banning the procedure outright were not heard before the Oklahoma legislature’s first deadline, but several bills to restrict it are still alive. Those include a bill banning abortion after a heartbeat can be detected at roughly six weeks, one to strip doctors of their licenses if they perform the procedure and one letting third parties sue doctors for wrongful death. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Drone legislation passes Senate committee: A state lawmaker wants to capitalize on momentum being built by the Osage and Choctaw nations and others involved in unmanned aerial vehicle research to make Oklahoma a leader in a potentially behemoth industry poised to take off. [Journal Record ????]
Legislation could result in Oklahoma’s two largest school districts splitting up: A bill, SB 600, moving through the Legislature would allow Tulsa and Oklahoma City residents to vote on splitting up their school districts. The bill would allow districts with 30,000 or more students to be divided into two districts. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma school standards could add biological evolution, expand on climate change: A proposal for new state academic standards could explicitly include biological evolution for the first time in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved new academic standards for science and fine arts on Thursday. The academic standards must come before the Legislature and the governor before implementation next school year. [The Oklahoman]
TPS offers deeper glimpse into non-personnel district office reductions projected to save $7 million: A change in school bell times and increased rent for charter partners are some of the ways in which Tulsa Public Schools intends to save about $7 million through non-personnel reductions. The recent elimination of more than 200 administrative positions accounted for less than half of the district’s plan to save an estimated $13 million to $14 million in cuts to district office services. [Tulsa World]
City of Tulsa tweaking retail incentives to help struggling and vacant shopping centers: Officials want to expand eligibility for a program offering up to $2 million over 10 years so it can be used not just for public improvements like new roads and sewer lines, but also for redevelopment costs. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Regulators mull proposal to lower cap on Oklahoma gas production: Debate over whether the cap on Oklahoma natural gas production should be lowered continued at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Friday, as a vote on a proposed limit was temporarily suspended so it could be taken under advisement. [Journal Record ????]
After 10 years, judge in poultry suit says decision ‘on the horizon’: Ten years after final arguments in a lawsuit Oklahoma brought against large-scale poultry producers, the presiding judge in the case said a decision is now in the works. “I have a 250-page draft and an opinion is on the horizon,” Oklahoma Northern U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell said last week. [Tulsa World]
10 Oklahoma lakes added to mercury consumption advisory list: Half of the lakes added to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s updated list of places with consumption advisories for mercury are in eastern Oklahoma and within an hour’s drive of Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
State awarded more than $1.8 million to fight HIV: As part of a national HIV initiative that targets rural problem areas, Oklahoma will receive more than $1.8 million to help with treatment and prevention of the disease, it was announced Wednesday. [Tulsa World]
Elections: Seven Oklahoma counties to vote on Sunday liquor store sales: While most eyes may be on the presidential primary elections Tuesday, seven counties in Oklahoma will also vote on whether to allow liquor store sales on Sundays. Counties voting on the legalization of Sunday liquor store sales will be Cleveland, Creek, Kingfisher, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Tulsa and Washington, according to a spokesperson from the Oklahoma State Election Board. [NonDoc] Metro liquor store owners want the option of being open on Sundays. But that doesn’t mean they’ll take advantage of it. [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“I would liken that to successful football teams don’t just give the quarterback the playbook. Everyone needs to be involved, and then we need to go execute it for success. Everyone needs to be involved and know the plan.”
-Krista Roberts, CEO at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid, speaking about the need for collaboration regarding the Governor’s alternative Medicaid expansion proposal [Enid News & Eagle]
Number of the Day
62%
Amount by which the likelihood of a rural hospital closing decreases if that hospital is in a Medicaid expansion state
[Source: Chartis Center for Rural Health]
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
When medical debt collectors decide who gets arrested: Welcome to Coffeyville, Kansas, where the judge has no law degree, debt collectors get a cut of the bail, and Americans are watching their lives — and liberty — disappear in the pursuit of medical debt collection. [ProPublica]
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