Topic: Health

Kansas is considering expanding health coverage. Oklahoma should, too.

By: Carly Putnam
March 25, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
It’s no secret that Kansas’s budget is in crisis. Following years of tax cuts and fiscal mismanagement, the state finds itself in a $600 million budget shortfall. The state is scrambling to fill the gap, including across-the-board budget reductions and… Read more [More...]

What Fallin’s goals for state government tell us about Oklahoma

By: Gene Perry
February 24, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
During her 2015 State of the State Address, Governor Fallin announced a new state website that would identify measurable objectives for state government and track how Oklahoma is doing at reaching these objectives over time. The website looks at 160… Read more [More...]

Sleeping dogs of the 2015 session

By: David Blatt
February 18, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The 2015 session is now underway and it’s clear that this year, as always, will feature heated debates on a multitude of contentious issues, from proposals to expand school choice through vouchers and charter schools to efforts to rein in… Read more [More...]

The ACA’s second Open Enrollment Period is almost over. Here’s what you need to know.

By: Carly Putnam
February 13, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The Affordable Care Act’s second Open Enrollment Period was largely a quiet affair. Without the headline-grabbing website glitches that plagued its predecessor, it has largely coasted under the radar. In fact, open enrollment has been substantially more successful this time… Read more [More...]

Too many foster youth enter the adult world without a safety net (Guest post: Brandon Crawford)

By: Guest
February 5, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Brandon L. Crawford s one of four 2014-2015 OK Policy Research Fellows. Brandon is a Sociology Ph.D. student at the University of Oklahoma’s Norman Campus. He is also a research assistant at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Office of… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s health ranking: same song, another verse

By: Carly Putnam
February 3, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The latest nationwide health ranking is out, and Oklahoma in its customary trailing position on national comparisons. United Health Foundation’s annual America’s Health Rankings report placed Oklahoma 46th in the US for the health of our people. This continues the… Read more [More...]

Priorities for Oklahoma lawmakers in 2015

By: Gene Perry
February 2, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Oklahoma’s 2015 Legislative session kicks off today with a State of the State address from Governor Mary Fallin. OK Policy and the Together Oklahoma coalition have identified six priorities for the coming session that are practical, politically achievable steps to… Read more [More...]

Rejecting federal funds is devastating Oklahoma’s rural hospitals

By: Carly Putnam
January 7, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
During negotiations over the Affordable Care Act, America’s hospitals looked at the landscape, took a deep breath, and decided to take one for the team. They agreed to accept cuts of $155 billion over ten years to help cover the… Read more [More...]

Protecting Oklahoma’s most vulnerable infants (Guest Post: Cassidy Hamilton)

By: Guest
January 6, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Cassidy Hamilton is one of four 2014-2015 OK Policy Research Fellows. Cassidy graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Economics and is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma. She works as an AmeriCorps… Read more [More...]

On World AIDS Day, a Q&A about HIV and AIDS in Oklahoma

By: Carly Putnam
December 1, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Since 1988, health advocates around the world have recognized World AIDS Day as an opportunity to unify in the fight against AIDS. To learn more about HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma, we spoke with Kathy Williams, executive director of Health Outreach Prevention… Read more [More...]