Medicaid Expansion

StateImpact Oklahoma celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2021. Our reporters preview what listeners can expect as we begin the new year.

On this episode, we speak with social justice organizations across the state who are being challenged by new legislation that they believe impedes their rights to assemble peacefully.

After Republican lawmakers in Missouri refused to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion in the state, state Supreme Court justices say low-income individuals must have access to care.

More than 100,000 Oklahomans have already enrolled in the program, which provides health coverage to low-income adults

Twelve states have not expanded Medicaid. Now some Democrats want to go around state leaders with legislation that would allow local governments to expand Medicaid themselves.

A special guest visited Oklahomans celebrating Medicaid expansion taking effect Thursday. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke briefly at Friendship Church in north Tulsa.

They don't qualify for Medicaid in their states, but earn too little to be eligible for subsidized ACA health plans. It's a gap in health care coverage, and some politicians are trying to fix it.

Oklahoma has long struggled with Hepatitis C and remains third in the nation for deaths from the viral infection.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel talk about Oklahoma City passing it's budget for next year to include a $1.3M increase for its police department despite calls to reduce the funding, nearly 100,000 Oklahomans sign up for Medicaid expansion in its first week online and the Department of Education uncovered $1.6M in fraud over a federal program to feed children during the pandemic.

About one week into sign-ups, nearly 100,000 Oklahomans have enrolled in Medicaid expansion.