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...]

For this community-focused family, Medicaid coverage is essential

Registered nurse Ginger Glory and her family are dedicated to serving their community in any way they can. However, they also rely on Medicaid to help provide necessary specialty care to their family that is unavailable within the tribal health system. [More...]

A closer look at SQ 802 results dispels myth that Oklahomans voted against their self-interest

A look at the results with attention to more than surface-level detail reveals a more accurate picture of the election: close vote counts in most precincts, a correlation between votes and income, and a strong impact from American Indian communities. [More...]

No matter how we fund it, Medicaid expansion will be the best investment we’ve ever made

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. [More...]

Statement Re: Passage of State Question 802

Statement from the Oklahoma Policy Institute: Oklahomans made the right choice Tuesday by passing SQ 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans and create a significant economic stimulus when implemented. OK Policy is grateful… 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...]

SQ 802 will dramatically improve financial well-being in Oklahoma

On June 30, Oklahomans will decide State Question 802 that would add Medicaid expansion to the Oklahoma Constitution. Arguments in favor of SQ 802 have rightly been centered around its well-documented health effects. Expansion, after all, will reduce the number… Read more [More...]

SQ 802 is a win for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma

Beyond its enormous implications for our health care system, State Question 802, the ballot measure to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, is also a significant criminal justice issue. Nearly a decade of evidence shows that expanding Medicaid increases access to mental… Read more [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...]