Insure Oklahoma, the state’s version of Medicaid, currently covers about 30,000 low-income residents. Gov. Fallin petitioned lawmakers to route $50 million from tobacco tax revenue to keep about 9,000 working individuals covered on the program, which will lose federal funding at the end of this year if Oklahoma does not comply with CMS’ criteria. A spokeswoman from the governor’s office said the remaining 20,000 people would likely be eligible for federal insurance premium subsidies via the health insurance exchanges that go live next year.
Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon said in a statement, “I have no plans to continue a government-run insurance program that will cost $50 million to serve 9,000 Oklahomans,” according to the report.
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