Insure Oklahoma federal waiver denied [The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City]

May 08--The federal government has denied the state of Oklahoma's request for a waiver that would extend its Insure Oklahoma program, which is scheduled to expire at the end of this year, the governor's office said Wednesday.

Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said beginning Jan. 1 the Affordable Care Act creates new coverage opportunities under Medicaid and in the individual and small group markets.

"The new law will mean that an extension of the Insure Oklahoma program without any changes is not possible," Mann wrote to Nico Gomez, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with you on changes to the demonstration that might be workable for Oklahoma," Mann said. "Since Insure Oklahoma includes a premium assistance model, you might want to consider extending your model to insurance products available in the individual and small business insurance market."

Gov. Mary Fallin last year rejected the Democratic president's proposals to expand the Medicaid health care program in Oklahoma to comply with the Affordable Care Act and to establish an online marketplace for the uninsured to shop for health insurance.

She requested federal officials grant a waiver to allow Insure Oklahoma to continue. Insure Oklahoma provides state funds along with Medicaid funds that are matched by small businesses and their employees to buy private health insurance coverage.

"This is the latest bad news in the ongoing train wreck that is the Affordable Care Act," Fallin said.

"Insure Oklahoma is a program that has been providing affordable health insurance to approximately 30,000 low-income Oklahomans since 2005," Fallin said. "It is exactly the kind of successful, state-based solution to health care needs that the federal government should be encouraging. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration seems intent on dismantling the program, as evidenced by the recent denial of Insure Oklahoma's Medicaid waiver."

A group of Republican lawmakers are working on an alternative plan to provide health coverage to uninsured Oklahomans, which includes some elements of Insure Oklahoma. It's unknown if they can get the legislation heard this session, which will end later this month.

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