Topic: Health Coverage

New OK Policy report shows intricate, fragile interconnectedness of public assistance programs for Oklahomans in need

A new report from the Oklahoma Policy Institute — entitled “Plateaus and Cliff Effects in Oklahoma” —  is among the first of its kind to examine how public supports and income interact to impact low-income Oklahomans. [More...]

Managed care will have a disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities

About this Series This is the third of three analysis pieces about the plan to introduce managed care organizations (MCOs) to oversee Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. Part one focused on managed care being a bad investment for Oklahoma, and part two… Read more [More...]

Managed care will be bad for patients and providers

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is currently accepting proposals from corporations, in an effort to privatize Medicaid and outsource the services that OHCA has successfully provided for decades. Managed care has already failed in Oklahoma, with no evidence to suggest the market has changed since the last attempt. This transition would not only be a significant financial risk for the state, but would likely harm both patients and providers. [More...]

Managed care is a bad investment for Oklahoma

Following voters’ approval of Medicaid expansion during the June 30 election, Oklahoma’s next steps should be relatively simple. The state has already been providing high-quality, low-cost Medicaid for years; the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has a decades-long track record of excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. OHCA could expand Medicaid to cover more than 200,000 low-income Oklahomans for between $125 million and $164 million, all without raising taxes.   [More...]

Ensuring Medicaid expansion delivers on its full potential

While voting to expand Medicaid was a monumental step forward, the subsequent decisions by our elected officials and policymakers are just as important to ensure that Oklahomans get the most impact from their investment. The state’s processes moving forward with expansion will impact hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans and it’s important they get it right. [More...]

Census data show Oklahoma still lags nation in poverty rate

Proposed policy solutions • Second federal relief package • Implement Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion quickly • Enforce federal eviction moratorium • Rent assistance New Census data released today show Oklahoma’s poverty rate remained higher than the national average in 2019 but… Read more [More...]

‘We really needed Medicaid expansion a long time ago’

Medical student Daniel Pham has seen firsthand the benefits Medicaid expansion would have on Oklahoma’s most vulnerable residents. He believes expansion is the first step to lowering Oklahoma's uninsured rate, making our communities healthier, and providing Oklahomans with the care they deserve. [More...]

‘Medicaid changed the trajectory of my life’

“I don't think people realize that if you can't pay for medical services, you don't get them." [More...]

‘Medicaid expansion literally saved my life’

Colorado’s decision to expand Medicaid in 2013 made it possible for Steve to receive life-saving treatment. Now, he urges voters to support Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma, where it could provide coverage for more than 200,000 uninsured individuals. [More...]

Medicaid expansion: Ten years of unparalleled return on investment, improved outcomes

This research shows that Medicaid expansion provides significant benefits not only for low-income adults in the U.S., specifically in states that expanded Medicaid, but also across local and state economies. No state has rolled back their expanded coverage through Medicaid, which perhaps serves as the best validation of the program’s strength.  [More...]