By:
Emma Morris
March 14, 2022 // Updated: March 17, 2022
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.
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By:
Emma Morris
July 30, 2021 // Updated: July 29, 2021
Per capita Medicaid costs have grown at slower rates than both Medicare and private insurance, and the program has become more efficient as the cost per enrollee has declined in recent years. This investment pays off, as healthier Oklahomans are better able to work, parent, and pay taxes.
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By:
Emma Morris
April 22, 2021 // Updated: April 21, 2021
In order to realize these enormous benefits, the state must ensure that Medicaid expansion is implemented well and that all eligible Oklahomans can enroll in the health program. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has taken some steps to make this a reality. Now, the agency must commit to developing and implementing a comprehensive outreach and enrollment assistance plan.
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The Oklahoma Health Care Authority — at the request of Gov. Stitt — has approved moving SoonerCare (Oklahoma’s Medicaid program) to a privatized managed care model. In early 2021, OHCA authorized $2 billion in managed care contracts to four companies.
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By:
Emma Morris
March 4, 2021 // Updated: March 4, 2021
The proposed managed care plan will award $2.1 billion in management contracts to private companies, which can collect up to 15 percent in profits and administration fees — three times higher than the amount OHCA currently uses for administrative management.
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By:
Steve Lewis
January 12, 2021 // Updated: January 12, 2021
Recently Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued a press release expressing his continued opposition to the Medicaid managed care proposal of Gov. Stitt. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) issued a Request for Proposal for insurance companies to bid on becoming…
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While there are arguments to pass a vape tax as a public health measure, it would likely be an insufficient and unstable way to fund a public program as crucial to our health as Medicaid.
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By:
Emma Morris
November 18, 2020 // Updated: February 18, 2021
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…
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By:
Emma Morris
October 16, 2020 // Updated: February 18, 2021
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.
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By:
Emma Morris
August 19, 2020 // Updated: November 19, 2020
Oklahomans on June 30 approved State Question 802, which amended the Oklahoma Constitution to expand Medicaid to low-income adults. Now it’s time to take the next step in implementing that promise. Funding expansion will be a key issue for the Legislature to tackle this spring.
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