OKPOLICY.ORG
OK Policy’s Board of Directors has voted to officially endorse State Question 802, the initiative petition to expand Medicaid coverage in Oklahoma to low-income adults.
OK Policy rarely takes a position on state questions and has done so only twice before, endorsing SQ 780 in 2016 (making simple drug possession offenses a misdemeanor) and opposing SQ 744 in 2010 (requiring Oklahoma to fund education at the regional average).
In this instance, the expansion of health insurance coverage proposed by SQ 802 is in solid alignment with the organization’s mission of advancing fiscal responsibility and expanded opportunity for all Oklahomans. We have been actively and passionately engaged through research and advocacy in support of expanding Medicaid ever since the issue first emerged in Oklahoma in 2012. We have written extensively and spoken publicly of the health, economic, and fiscal benefits of maximizing federal dollars to expand coverage. By endorsing SQ 802, we will stand with our longstanding partners, allies, and funders in promoting this nonpartisan effort to expand access to health coverage.
We are aware that legislators and Governor Stitt are now working to develop an alternative health care plan. We are committed to being engaged in this process and to carefully reviewing any proposal that might eventually emerge. However, at the current time, SQ 802 is the only option on the table and it is one that meets OK Policy’s core policy objectives of providing comprehensive health care coverage to the full expansion population without creating cumbersome and inefficient barriers to care.
We will continue to provide updated information and resources on SQ 802 on our website.
Thank you for your support with Medicaid Expansion. We work with handicapped adults and not only have their services been alleviated and destroyed ….so have the thousands of providers that have dedicated their lives to this incredibly deserving group of citizens. Our state is at the bottom of health care due to lack of insight, foresight and observation of the needs of our mentally and physically handicapped population. You are saluted and appreciated more than words can express. We, our families, our precious clientele thank you.
Sounds good, does it include coverage for noncitizens or citizens from another state.