Area legislators discuss Medicaid and priorities for the year
State Sen.
Pemberton said the three big issues he wants to see addressed are the state budget; Gov.
"Hopefully, since the federal judge has put them in mediation, we'll begin to have some good discussions and go back to the table," Pemberton said. "And, hopefully, in the next few months we'll have something worked out so that we can make sure that we have steady flows of our revenue."
Meredith said the expansion of Medicaid and the tribal compact dilemma are two of the biggest issues he wants to see addressed. He also has plans to help protect NeoHealth's funding and to allow for
"I have a bill from last year that will help their police officers go into the 20-year retirement system for law enforcement," he said. "I think we're going to try and get the deputies in there this year, and right after that, we're going to go with the university -- NSU."
Sneed plans on working on legislation to stop surprise medical billing, as well as a bill that would give tax credits to primary care physicians who want to offer provider care in rural
"Within that bill, what you would be able to do is you own your health care policy, so you would be able to pick which provider you want to go see and give them your benefits," he said. "
Like the other legislators, Hardin would also like to see an end to the state gaming compact issue. He's also working to pass a bill that would lessen the burden on sheriff's offices when they perform evictions.
"I ran a bill that passed committee the other day for
The legislators were asked about how they plan to address health care during the session. Meredith took the first opportunity to speak and said the state should expand Medicaid. While Stitt recently announced a health care plan that would take advantage of President
"I understand some of the concerns the other side has on it, but it's something that we need to go in and have an actual conversation about -- not go to
Instead, Meredith wants to see
Sneed said he's against Medicaid expansion, but not against offering increased access to health care. He said he's been working with people to consider an Accountable Care Organizations model, which he said is another form of Stitt's managed health care proposal. He and Hardin both said they are concerned about the possibility of the federal government cutting the amount appropriated for the state's Medicaid and
"It's a great deal -- 90 percent and we pay 10 percent," said Hardin. "But is there a guarantee in that? If we can get the federal government to write us a note and say, 'We guarantee this; we will do this for the rest of our life. To the end of time we will guarantee 90 percent,' then I'm with
Pemberton said he is not for a managed health care system, because he said it could run a lot Oklahomans out of business. He also pointed out that the governor's plan would accept the federal funding, but the difference is that "the ballot initiative will put it in the constitution and we will draw those dollars down [from] the Obamacare plan, but we have no control at all over how those dollars are spent."
"The governor's plan would draw it down, but at the same time we would request waivers," said Pemberton. "It will not go into the state constitution, so it statutorily can be modified and be flexible. It would be an
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