Topic: Health Coverage

Enacting recommended expansion of pregnancy, postpartum care will represent a step forward for Oklahoma families

Oklahoma consistently ranks poorly on women’s and children’s health. While Oklahoma’s decision to expand Medicaid has significantly lowered the state’s uninsured rate, Oklahoma women have historically seen high rates of uninsurance. At 23.5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the… Read more [More...]

Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma: Year One

Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma: Year One: When Oklahoma voters passed Medicaid expansion in June 2020, they understood the benefits that expansion would bring to the state. They knew that providing health coverage to low-income, working-age adults would improve health outcomes,… Read more [More...]

A thoughtful approach to the end of the public health emergency will mitigate coverage lapses

As the end of the public health emergency approaches (which could be as soon as mid-July 2022), the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has taken several steps to help eligible enrollees maintain coverage when the public health emergency ends. [More...]

Medicaid expansion has helped Oklahomans weather the pandemic

Throughout this pandemic — and particularly since the implementation of Medicaid expansion in 2021 — Medicaid has fulfilled its purpose: facilitating access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage for those who might otherwise go without health care. State and federal actions have helped maximize the impact of Medicaid, and moving forward we should continue to prioritize accessible coverage for all eligible Oklahomans.  [More...]

Thanks to Oklahoma voters, the state is already reaping the benefits of Medicaid expansion

Medicaid expansion went into effect just over two months ago, and some of these benefits are already playing out in the state. Oklahoma has historically had a very high uninsured rate, ranking second highest in the nation with 14.3 percent of the population without health insurance.   [More...]

KIDS COUNT 2021: Smart policy decisions can help improve Oklahoma’s dismal child well-being outcomes

Oklahoma children need housing, food, health care, educational opportunities, and stable, nurturing environments to succeed. These essentials, however, are out of reach for many Oklahomans as the result of poverty, structural racism, and other barriers. [More...]

The 2021 session proved a mixed bag for health issues

With Medicaid expansion finally funded, the state now has a number of common sense options to maximize federal Medicaid spending and further ensure access to high-quality, affordable health care for all.  [More...]

Managed care isn’t a silver bullet: Improving Oklahoma’s health outcomes requires multi-faceted investments

We must look at the factors that actually impact health and increase our investment in the mental, physical, and economic well-being of all Oklahomans.  [More...]

A SoonerCare success story

As Oklahoma moves to implement Medicaid expansion in July 2021, some 200,000 newly eligible Oklahomans will gain access to affordable health care, and the state will see significant economic returns. [More...]

Happy Birthday ACA! And what federal COVID relief means for your health care

The recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) builds on the success of the ACA and further strengthens the health care safety net. The ARPA will provide many Oklahomans with a new or significantly less expensive pathway to affordable health care by providing additional health-related funding to states and more direct assistance to Oklahomans.  [More...]