Here are six takeaways:
1. Both Missouri and Oklahoma residents approved ballot measures in 2020 that expanded Medicaid eligibility in their respective states to those who make up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, according to Kaiser Health News.
2. However, Oklahoma has enrolled over 210,000 people of 215,000 newly eligible residents, while Missouri has enrolled under 20,000 of 275,000 newly eligible residents.
3. Kaiser Health News chalks Oklahoma’s success up to $164 million in near-immediate funding and expeditiously opening applications. The result was 113,000 sign-ups in the first month.
4. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Parson delayed the rollout, with the state only beginning to process applications in October because of a court order. Lawmakers also failed to allocate funding to the expansion.
5. Missouri’s efforts to publicize the expansion were also far more limited compared to Oklahoma, which used advertising campaigns, events and interviews to get the word out, according to Kaiser Health News.
6. Compared to Oklahoma, Missouri is also lagging behind in processing applications. About 32,000 applications were pending as of Nov. 17.
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