subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sat, Jul 04 2009 

Published August 26, 2008 10:44 pm - OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Legislature’s only physician expressed frustration Tuesday with delays in the authorization of federal funds for state-approved programs designed to reduce the number of Oklahomans without health insurance.

Oklahoma: Task force studies uninsured Oklahomans



The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Legislature’s only physician expressed frustration Tuesday with delays in the authorization of federal funds for state-approved programs designed to reduce the number of Oklahomans without health insurance.

Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, an emergency medicine physician at Integris Grove General Hospital, said the delays are preventing implementation and expansion of health insurance premium assistance programs adopted by state lawmakers to reduce the estimated 650,000 uninsured Oklahomans.

“We haven’t really seen the full affects of what we’ve done,” Cox said.

Cox, chairman of the House Public Health Committee, made the comments following a meeting of the state Health Care Reform Task Force where health care policy analysts outlined how other states have used premium assistance programs, public-private partnerships and private market strategies to make health insurance more affordable and reduce the number of uninsured.

“This is an issue that virtually every state in the nation is dealing with,” said Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, co-chairman of the task force.

In 2004, state lawmakers passed the Insure Oklahoma program, designed to help small businesses provide health care coverage for their low- and middle-income employees.

It authorized the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to develop a program for adults, 19 to 64 years of age, who did not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $37,000 annually.

Under the program, the state pays 60 percent of insurance costs, the employer pays 25 percent and the employee pays 15 percent. The state’s portion of the cost is funded by tobacco tax revenue and federal Medicaid matching dollars.

Last year, lawmakers voted to expand the program to permit small business workers to qualify if they make up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, about $60,000. Currently, about 13,500 people participate in the Insure Oklahoma program but it can afford up to 40,000, Cox said.

Lawmakers also approved the All Kids Act, which allows families making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for government assistance in obtaining health care. Before, families had to make under 185 percent of the federal poverty line before their children qualified for Medicaid benefits.

“We’re looking at reducing the uninsured,” Steele said.

But Cox said the state has been forced to delay expanding the programs while it awaits authorization by federal officials of additional Medicaid funds for the programs.

Cox said he is disappointed at the lack of cooperation by officials in Washington, who he said claim they want to address the health care crisis.

“It seems like they’re all talk and no action,” Cox said.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

We Blog!
We Pod Cast!

We Twitter!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!

TV LIsitngs



Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

DELIVERY DRIVER
We have a full time position open for a delivery driver. Position consists of working part time in the warehouse in addi...>MORE

ACCOUNTANT.

Expanding CPA firm: full time, degree/ computer skills required. Audit/tax experience preferred. Send resume to P
...>MORE

LIFEGUARDS
All shifts available, Apply in person at either Joplin Family Y location.
www.joplinfamilyy.org.
...>MORE

MED TECH SUPERVISOR
Med TECH SUPERVISOR Excellent Salary and Benefits
Apply in person or send resume: Nevada Medical Clinic
Atte
...>MORE

GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Located on US Business. 60
7 acres with 3 BR house on Hickory Creek
3 buildings with 20 10 x 15 units each
...>MORE

MEDICAL OFFICE
seeking Insurance Clerk. Coding experience required. Will pay for experience. Benefits. Send resume: Globe Box 94, 117 E...>MORE

GROWING DENTAL PRACTICE
looking for experienced Dental Assistant. Computer knowledge a must. Resumes: 2710 Picher, Joplin, MO 64804. Deadline by...>MORE

TRUCK MECHANIC

needed for Waste Corporation of Joplin. Competitive pay and benefits package. Requires candidate to own hand tools
...>MORE

LOCAL DRILLING COMPANY
needs a rock driller. Must have experience in hydraulics. Company vehicle provided. (417)662-7267...>MORE

OLIVE GARDEN

Now accepting applications Line Cooks, Dishwashers, and Lunch Servers
Interviewing 2-4 p.m. Monday through Fr
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

NEED 2 DRIVERS
with 3 years plus $ miles with turn arounds back to Joplin, MO. Home often. 417-325-7320....>MORE

YAMAHA 1999 ROAD STAR
Yamaha, 1999 Road Star 1600 excellent condition, less than 10,000 miles, saddle bags and highway lamps. $3500. Cell phon...>MORE

1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350 automatic, $5000 or trade consider. (620)230-0459...>MORE

LEHMAN TRIKE
LEHMAN TRIKE, 2007, excellent condition, rider has health problems. $20,500. Serious inquires only. (417)529-9554....>MORE

2005 HONDA SHADOW VLX 600
2,000 miles, color white, $3950. (417)673-3860....>MORE

FORD 2000 1 TON
Ford, 2000 1 ton, 4X4, 6 speed, duals, flatbed, 7.3 diesel, $6800; 1998 Bucket truck, 55’ Altec. 417-358-8636, 483-9700....>MORE

FORD 2001 ESCORT
FORD, 2001 Escort, 4 cylinder, automatic, good condition. $1800. (417)437-5682....>MORE

MAZDA, 2000
B3000, 4x2, V6, automatic, high miles, $2150. (417)843-2613....>MORE

1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE
2 door, 2 wheel drive, barn door rear, lowered, custom paint/grill/wheels, asking $5500. (417)781-1932, or cell (417)437...>MORE

2006 CHEVROLET HHR LT
automatic, 40,000 miles, loaded with options, $6200. (417)434-2949....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

2-3 BR
Basement, newly remodeled, oak cabinets, nice wood floors, privacy fence. $79,200. 2525 N. Ozark. (417)483-0900....>MORE

LAKE FRONT MOBILE
Lake Front Mobile Grove, OK 1972 14 X 46 1 Bedroom, 1 bath lake front mobile home weekend getaway. Complete with furn...>MORE

OWNER FINANCE
OWNER FINANCE. $650 down, $435 monthly. 201 N. Washington, Joplin, 3 BR, garage, Full price $32,500. 417-359-4113. ...>MORE

INVESTORS OR START-UP
INVESTORS OR START-UP 1217 Central. $67500 2 bedroom, 1 bath, very nice,room to build more. See more at homesbyowner.co...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
OPEN HOUSE 7/5/09 1:00-4:00 2281 sq. ft. Updated kitchen 4 br + bonus room 2 living areas Metal roof. Stapleton school ...>MORE

HANDYMAN SPECIAL
Handyman Special, only $500 down, owner financing, 11% interest, $345/ month, priced at $23,900. 1120 W. 12th Street (41...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

MALTIES PUPS
$150-$300; Yorkies, $300; Morkies-$200. 592-7827, leave message....>MORE

24' BAJA OUTLAW
24’ BAJA Outlaw beautiful closed bow boat, 454 Mag, all options, excellent condition, low hours with 2005 trailer, $16,0...>MORE

YORKIE-CHORKIE
Yorkie-Chorkie, 6 weeks, weight 12 oz. and up. 417-358-4202....>MORE

MINIATURE DACHSHUND PUPPIES
6 weeks old, $100. (417)781-4099....>MORE

PATTERN TORCH
Industrial, $500. (417)781-1932....>MORE

INDEPENDENCE DAY BLOW OUT SALE

20% off all grocery items
20% off all cleaning supply items
20% off all refrigerators, dishwashers, deep
...>MORE

2002 LOWE TAHITI
2002 Lowe Tahiti 22 Deck Boat with 2002 Johnson 150 hp motor, fully loaded and lake ready, $12,500. (620)856-5165 or (41...>MORE

NASCAR
Indy Brick Yard 400, 7/26/09,
2 at $90. 417-483-1460.
...>MORE

MINI SCHNAUZERS
8 weeks AKC house breaking underway, vet checked/healthy. rsfieker@yahoo.com 417-235-3168....>MORE

AMPLIFIER
1953 Gibson BHR, $250. (417)437-9942....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition