Oklahoma’s Governor Stitt (R-OK) will be submitting a state plan amendment to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand Medicaid this summer:
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority on Friday will submit to the federal government a state plan amendment seeking to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma as soon as this summer.
“The Health Care Authority has the authority to send in the paperwork to expand, and we’re going to get that out on Friday,” Gov. Kevin Stitt told The Oklahoman on Thursday.
The state plan amendment will get the ball rolling for Oklahoma to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid.
When a state wants to change its Medicaid program, the state must submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a state plan amendment for review and approval. The amendment is separate from the Healthy Adult Opportunity waiver Stitt has expressed an interest in seeking.
Oklahoma activists had gathered signatures to put a constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid on the fall ballot. This would presumably pre-empt or deflate support for that move while giving the state government flexibility to apply for waivers including the block grant waiver.
Respite Open Thread: Ducks and Puppies
Baud
It’s amazing how many people in red States have suffered to spite the black guy.
Yutsano
@Baud: Fuck John Roberts. That is all.
sdhays
@Yutsano: The idea that Congress doesn’t have a right to amend its own program giving money to the states is just bonkers. Roberts has to go down in history as one of the worst Justices we’ve ever had, and there are a lot of them.
waspuppet
Yeah it’s been long enough that “Real Americans” have forgotten that the (clang) and the Democrats got this for them and can tell themselves “Hey! Now I have health insurance! Thanks President Trump!”
Adam L Silverman
The Stitt is about to hit the fan!
I’m not proud of saying it, but somebody had to…
Yutsano
@sdhays: He’s a good Republican operative. He had to get the damage in there somewhere. And he knew if he spiked the bill entirely the Republicans would be finished for a generation. So he split the baby.
@Adam L Silverman: You…go write something about Bibi losing his Prime Ministership or something.
Kent
How many red state rural hospitals have closed because of John Roberts? The number is in the hundreds. Entire communities just get hollowed out and blown away when a hospital closes and 95% of the professional salaried jobs vanish. He is single handedly responsible for more economic misery in red America than any justice in history. Of course he couldn’t have done it without the active participation of GOP state legislatures everywhere.
The losses are permanent. Expanding medicaid now won’t bring back the rural hospitals that you lost. They, along with the people and jobs, are gone forever.
L85NJGT
That leaves thirteen.
The Kansas legislature has the votes to pass, but the dingbat wing of the GOP is acting out.
Missouri expansion has a good shot at the ballot this fall.
Tennessee has bills in both chambers.
UncleEbeneezer
Ya see, Biden is just a Republican in 5…4…3…
p.a.
But these are after all red states, so there must be a turd in the punchbowl. Work requirements, sterilization, something…
AM in NC
@Kent: I think Democrats could do themselves a huge favor by hitting hard on rural hospital closures. At the state level this is devastating to communities, economically, and from a health perspective. I think it could move some votes in close races – both at the national and at the state levels.
Kent
What we need are work requirements and drug testing for ALL welfare programs. You want that farm subsidy? Get out of your Florida or California gated golf club resort and fly back North Dakota and put in your 40 hours/week on that farm you are claiming subsidies on. Oh, and go pee in a cup while you are at it!
Anonymous At Work
Okies should definitely push for the amendment, hopefully clean expansion with enacting clause in the amendment. “Don’t be dumb like those Arkies” would be a strong selling point.
Mai naem mobile
Mai naem mobile
Oklahoma sounds like a real shithole state to live in. No wonder it had Tom Coburn one of the biggest assholes to ever serving in the senate representing it. And then James Inhofe. Another no nothing asshole. Don’t know much about Lankford but he’s always standing right next to Mitch McConnell when he’s doing something awful.
Duane
@L85NJGT: There’s great news for Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas where expansion has Republican support and a D governor. John Roberts. Fuck the poor? No fuck you, asshole.