Two lawmakers who took on the task of creating an Oklahoma-based solution for increasing access to health care said a new report commissioned by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) mirrors many of the recommendations they had included in Senate Bill 640. The Utah-based Leavitt Partners presented their findings on Thursday to OHCA’s governing board. Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Doug Cox, M.D., R-Grove, said the report shows they were on the right track with their proposals.
Oklahoma leaders have steadfastly refused to expand Medicaid arguing the plan would ultimately prove too costly for the state. However, the state’s program to enable greater access to health care insurance, Insure Oklahoma, could see its federal support eliminated by the end of this year unless OHCA receives a waiver for continued funding. The Leavitt Report recommended modifying Insure Oklahoma as a way to increase access to health care.