Oklahoma's legislature has decided against a budget that would have reduced reimbursement to physicians that care for Medicaid patients by 25 percent, reports The Express Star.
Earlier this year, Oklahoma legislators proposed cutting Medicaid reimbursement as a way to reduce state spending and resolve a $1.3 billion budget shortfall in fiscal year 2017.
Legislators were able to find alternative ways to rectify the financial shortcoming, to the relief of many healthcare providers. Legislators approved a 2017 budget that allocated $991 million to the Oklahoma Health Care Association, the group responsible for the state's Medicaid program, compared to a $953 million budget for fiscal year 2015.
To avoid the 25 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursement, legislators shaved 5 percent off overall state spending, reduced tax breaks and found one-time alternative sources of money.