Oklahoma Medicaid leaders say agency needs at least $164 million more

[kelroy55]

I wonder if not accepting the ACA is hurting the state more than people thought.

Leaders at the state’s Medicaid agency say the organization needs at least $164 million additional state dollars for the next fiscal year to maintain the existing program.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority presented its 2016 fiscal year budget request during its board meeting Thursday, outlining agency leaders’ concerns about the next budget cycle.

The agency plans to request $275 million additional state dollars — $164 million of which it says it must have to maintain the program at its current level — on top of the $953 million that the authority receives in base funding.

The authority has four budget priorities that make up the $164 million request: replacing lost federal funding; a 4 percent anticipated growth in the program; a federal mandate for an in-house administrative law judge; and replacement of one-time carryover money, $61 million from the state Legislature.

Oklahoma Medicaid leaders say agency needs at least $164 million additional state dollars for next fiscal year | News OK

[BoulderSooner]

No this is the reason why we didn't. Expanding Medicaid only expands future liability And we can't pay for what we do now

[kelroy55]

Didn't expanding Medicaid also include lots of Federal funds?

[Jersey Boss]

No this is the reason why we didn't. Expanding Medicaid only expands future liability And we can't pay for what we do now

We(Oklahoma) can afford it, the legislature chooses not to. Big difference.

[gopokes88]

Didn't expanding Medicaid also include lots of Federal funds?

Temporarily. Those federal funds taper off after a while leaving the state with a huge unfunded liability.

[TheTravellers]

Temporarily. Those federal funds taper off after a while leaving the state with a huge unfunded liability.

Don't the federal funds taper down to 90% support? Not totally sure, haven't taken the time to fully research it, but thought that was the case.

[Jersey Boss]

Don't the federal funds taper down to 90% support? Not totally sure, haven't taken the time to fully research it, but thought that was the case.

Word.

[onthestrip]

Temporarily. Those federal funds taper off after a while leaving the state with a huge unfunded liability.

They only taper to 90% of funding, after the feds funding it 100% the first few years. So while we would have to pay roughly $700mil for first 10 years ($70mil per year, which is very doable), the feds (our tax dollars) over that same 10 year span with inject over $8 BILLION into our state, which would give about 150,000 Oklahomans access to health care, save hospitals from closing, and create an estimated 13,000 jobs. Basically, an incredible bargain when you weigh the small costs to the incredible benefits. Just the infusion of federal dollars alone is enough to offset our $70 mil a year investment by almost half, from what Ive read.

Mary Fallin will do about anything for good jobs, including giving away tax dollars in incentives. But she refuses to do the same for something that is way more beneficial than just adding jobs (health care for 150,000 as well) just because its tied to Obama.

How does everyone like our state remaining at the bottom of the barrel health-wise and seeing their federal tax dollars go to other states? Cant say that Im a fan of it.

Here is a simple fact sheet with a few numbers. How Much Would Extending Medicaid Cost?