A bill that would save Oklahoma $84 million by changing Medicaid income requirements passed out of the state Senate Monday.
The measure would would change parent and caretaker group income requirements from 41 percent of the federal poverty level to 20 percent, a move that would make more than 43,000 currently covered adults ineligible for Medicaid.
Senator Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate) is one of the bill's authors. He says the adults who lose coverage under his plan could get health care on a sliding scale from a federally qualified health center.
"And those federally qualified health centers are another opportunity outside of hospitals, where I, based on my income, get a better deal."
Senator Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) said during discussion that a single parent would have to earn less than $250 dollars a month to qualify for coverage under the bill.
Senator Brecheen said some of the money saved could go toward teacher pay raises.
The bill now heads to the House.