Pat McGuigan

Oklahoma Senate Democrats comment on passage of Senate Redistricting Bill

5/16/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Legislature has settled on Legislative district lines for the 2022 elections in both the House and Senate, subject to review after finalized U.S. Census data is released later this year.

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after the Senate passed Senate Bill 1066, the Senate’s redistricting bill, in early May:

“Oklahoma Senate Democrats continue to believe the redrawing of legislative districts should be handled by an independent redistricting commission. Since this option is not currently possible, we chose to engage with the existing process led by the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. Our caucus had three members on the committee, Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, who served as a vice chair of the committee.

“While the new map produced by the committee and approved by the Senate today is not perfect, members of our caucus were able to vote for it because the redistricting process included input from our caucus and from the communities we represent. The redistricting bill passed by the Senate Tuesday also includes an amendment authored by Sen. Kirt, which will ensure the district lines are adjusted if necessary when final population data is received from the United States Census Bureau later this year.

“As the redistricting process moves forward, Oklahoma Senate Democrats will continue communicating with our constituents to make sure they are aware of the new districts and have an opportunity to make their voices heard.”

In related news, state Senator Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said in a recent release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations, “At the outset, we pledged to have an open and transparent redistricting process and we delivered. At every turn, we engaged with the public and sought their input in the redistricting process as part of our commitment to transparency. The results were maps that are more compact and better than the current legislative boundaries.” (https://ift.tt/3hvSBaX)

Note: Every 10 years, the Oklahoma Legislature is constitutionally required to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries using the latest U.S. Census data. The requirement is stated in the U.S. Constitution, at Article I, section 2, clause 3. Pat McGuigan, editor of The City Sentinel newspaper and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news service, contributed to this report.

Oklahoma Senate Democrats comment on passage of Senate Redistricting Bill
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

House Senate redistricting chairs comment on final passage of legislative redistricting plans

5/16/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate each in bipartisan and overwhelming votes on May 12 approved new legislative district maps.

By law, the Legislature must redraw its legislative and congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population every 10 years immediately following the decennial Census. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, redistricting plans for state legislative districts must be completed by the end of this year’s regular session.

“At the outset, we pledged to have an open and transparent redistricting process and we delivered. At every turn, we engaged with the public and sought their input in the redistricting process as part of our commitment to transparency. The results were maps that are more compact and better than the current legislative boundaries,” said Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting.

“The new redistricting boundaries ensure each Oklahoman has an equal voice in state and national government for the next ten years,” said. Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond and chair of the House Redistricting committee. “This year, every member of the House served on a redistricting committee, and over 20 public meetings, including virtual, were held to get as much input as possible into this important process. I’m glad to send these plans to the governor’s desk so they can be signed into law and fully implemented.”

The House and Senate, from December to March held 22 town hall meetings – 18 in person and four virtual – to solicit input from the public. All Oklahomans were invited to attend, ask questions, submit testimony and talk to lawmakers and staff about what makes the most sense for their community.

Meetings were live-streamed, when possible, and recorded and archived on the House and Senate websites. Redistricting maps and all related materials are available for review on the redistricting websites of the House and the Senate. The public can submit questions to the Senate at any time via email at redistricting@oksenate.gov and to the House via email at redistrictoklahoma2020@okhouse.gov.

Congressional redistricting has no deadline. The Legislature plans to reconvene in a special session in the fall to complete congressional redistricting and make any necessary adjustments to legislative districts upon the release of final Census data. The U.S. Census Bureau failed to meet the April 1 deadline to release final data to the states and has announced the data will be released in September.

Details will be announced soon on town hall meetings regarding congressional redistricting.

Note: Every 10 years, the Oklahoma Legislature is constitutionally required to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries using the latest U.S. Census data. The requirement is stated in the U.S. Constitution, at Article I, section 2, clause 3.

House, Senate redistricting chairs comment on final passage of legislative redistricting plans
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Oklahoma House of Representatives Passes Resolution Supporting Israel

5/14/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House of Representatives today (Friday, May 14) adopted a resolution stating members’ support of Israel.

House Resolution 1037 is authored by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore; House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa; and Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.

“As a Christian, I simply must stand on the biblical foundation that Israel is the apple of God’s eye – His chosen people,” McBride said in a press release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations.

“Under the Abrahamic covenant, those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse her will bring a curse upon themselves. This resolution states that Israel has a right to exist, and the Jewish people themselves have a right to exist, and it condemns terrorism. I’m thankful for the support of my fellow co-authors and all those who voted in favor of this resolution. I feel the majority of Oklahomans are in favor of this as well.”

The resolution will be sent to the members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation asking them to sign on to the statements it contains and to support the nation of Israel during a time of adversity and hostile actions by a foreign power. It should be noted that this resolution was passed on the day in history when Israel declared statehood in 1948, fulfilling a 3,000-year-old prophecy from the Book of Amos that God would bring his people, Israel, out of captivity.

The resolution in part reads: "We must stand united with Israel in this latest attack against their sovereignty and their right to exist as a nation and for the Jewish people to exist. Israel is one of the United States' staunchest allies. We must stand firm in condemning the hatred against this people that has led to their expulsion from countries across the globe for centuries and to their massacre, including the more than 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust under the Nazis."

McBride said he and the other authors of the legislation were spurred to action by the latest attacks against Israel and Jerusalem that began May 10, Jerusalem Day – a national holiday that commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967. Rocket attacks and fires have left multiple dead in Israel and surrounding areas.

The resolution states that the Oklahoma House of Representatives calls for a restoration of peace in Israel and asks for prayers for the Jewish people and others involved in the latest escalation of fighting.

The resolution further states: “We stand today united in our support of Israel and the Jewish people and we bless them, and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

The resolution passed the House 61-15, with 25 members not voting.

Copies will be distributed to each member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation.

NOTE: State Rep. Mark McBride, a Republican, serves District 53 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes parts of Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma House of Representatives Passes Resolution Supporting Israel
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

OK STABLE Program Tax Deduction Enacted

5/14/2021

Staff Report

Oklahomans who save and invest using OK STABLE, the state-sponsored ABLE Act program for people with disabilities, will now be able to deduct contributions from their state taxes, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced Thursday (May 14).

The tax deduction is identical to the one offered for contributions to the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan and will be in effect starting with 2021 income tax filing. The new law allows couples to deduct up to $20,000 in contributions per year from their state taxable income. Single taxpayers can deduct contributions of up to $10,000 per year.

Federal law allows states to sponsor savings and investment programs for people with disabilities. Under OK STABLE, Oklahomans with disabilities can save and invest money without jeopardizing need-based benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Funds in an account can be used for qualified expenses, including housing, transportation, education, employment training, assistive technology, and many other expenses.

“People with disabilities face many challenges in life,” Treasurer McDaniel said, in a press release sent to Oklahoma news organizations.

“We should do all we can to ease the burden and support efforts to save for a brighter future.”

The tax deduction for OK STABLE is not only available to individuals with disabilities, it can also be used by friends and family who contribute to an account. As with college savings and IRA deductions, contributions made by the tax filing deadline can be claimed on the previous year’s income tax returns.

House Bill 2178, creating the tax deduction, was requested by Treasurer McDaniel and authored by Rep. Kyle Hilbert of Bristow and Sen. John Michael Montgomery of Lawton. It garnered strong bi-partisan support in the final votes in both the House and Senate.

Governor Kevin Stitt signed the legislation into law on May 7.

Ellyn Novak Hefner, a special care advocate in Oklahoma City, has been an ardent supporter of the program throughout its existence. She has written on the program regularly for The City Sentinel, an independent, locally-owned, non-partisan newspaper based in Oklahoma City. In a commentary for The City Sentinel newspaper this week, she applauded “all Oklahoma law makers for helping to create equality between people with and without disabilities.”

Oklahomans with disabilities can look online to see if they are eligible to open an account by going to OKSTABLE.org. The program was launched in May 2018 and currently contains more than 750 active accounts with $3.7 million.

OK STABLE Program Tax Deduction Enacted
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Dollens Issues Statement on Oklahoma PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) Decision

5/13/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement today urging Governor Kevin Stitt not to pull Oklahoma out of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.

“Ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits before they expire in September is shortsighted and punitive to Oklahomans who still require aid. This federal money, intended to stimulate the economy and support our workforce, has already been allocated.

These federal benefits have greatly contributed to Oklahoma’s economic recovery because recipients infuse those dollars back into their local economies.

“Before we rush to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits, we need to take a hard look at the reality facing many Oklahomans today. More than 1 in 7 Oklahomans live below the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that means the household is bringing in less than $26,200.

“The majority of Oklahomans receiving unemployment benefits aren’t scamming the system, they’re trying to get back on their feet. The ones scamming the system are the big corporations who believe they can pay their employees poverty wages while they line their own pockets. We need to do better if we want our state to prosper.

“I urge the governor to consider the current and past hardships over the last year that Oklahomans have faced. Do not prematurely end this needed safety net for our citizens.”

Dollens Issues Statement on Oklahoma PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) Decision
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Governor Stitt signs Coleman-Mize bill expanding electronic monitoring for nonviolent offenders

5/12/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – More of Oklahoma’s nonviolent offenders will soon qualify for the state’s Electronic Monitoring Program thanks to legislation signed into law last week.

In a statement from Senate communications staff to CapitolBeatOK.com, The City Sentinel newspaper and other news organizations, Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, said Senate Bill 456 addresses two eligibility issues within community sentencing to help nonviolent offenders re-enter society while keeping predators out of the program.

“This bill improves our community sentencing statutes by ensuring those who committed low level crimes and don’t present a danger to society can return to their families and the workforce. This will allow them to become productive members of society while lowering incarceration costs and prison overcrowding,” Coleman said.

“It further adds some instances of child abuse and neglect as well as vulnerable adult exploitation to the violent crimes list, ensuring these predators don’t qualify for the program. Those who prey on children, the disabled and elderly need to serve out their full time to better protect our communities. I’m so grateful for the overwhelming support of this important public safety reform.”

Requested by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, S.B. 456 eliminates the current eligibility requirements that keep inmates sentenced between five and ten years from participating in Electronic Monitoring Program.

The new law will allow all sentence lengths to be eligible for the program once a nonviolent offender is within three years of release. It also makes inmates convicted on counts relating to child abuse and neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult ineligible to participate in home monitoring.

Rep. Garry Mize, R-Guthrie, carried the measure in the House.

“When working on this bill, Senator Coleman and I wanted to ensure the language was agreed upon by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association and the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and I’m glad we were able to find common ground on this bill,” Mize said.

“It is my hope Senate Bill 456 will help protect our most vulnerable citizens from harm while promoting public safety. I’m glad to see this important legislation signed into law.”

Participation in the Electronic Monitoring Program is not automatic. Inmates must apply to get into the program and meet numerous eligibility standards prior to enrollment.

The new law will go into effect November 1, 2021.

Governor Stitt signs Coleman-Mize bill expanding electronic monitoring for nonviolent offenders
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Bill expanding high school apprenticeship program becomes law

5/12/2021

Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sophomores will be able to participate in more school-sponsored career opportunities beginning with the 2021-2022 school year under legislation signed into law last week by Governor Kevin Stitt.

Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is the author of Senate Bill 619 allowing sophomores, 16 years or older, to apply for apprenticeships, internships, and mentorships through their school.

“The best way to really learn something is with hands-on, real life experience, and that’s especially true for students trying to decide what career to pursue. Senate Bill 619 will give them an extra year to learn about fields they’re interested in by allowing them to work alongside actual professionals who can mentor and train them,” Bullard said.

“It’s one thing to see jobs on TV or read about them in books, but this program helps them learn what additional training or education they may need and what the daily demands are of the job to see if it’s really something they love and would excel at.”

Currently, only juniors and seniors can participate in the job training program. S.B. 619 will allow school districts to purchase liability insurance coverage to extend these career opportunities to sophomores. Schools cannot charge participants or their parents for the insurance. School districts are protected under the Governmental Tort Claims Act and any school board that does not obtain insurance will not be held legally liable.

Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, was the principal House author of the measure.

In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK.com, The City Sentinel newspaper and other news organizations, West said: “As a tradesman, I know the incredible value apprenticeships and internships hold for young people considering their next steps after high school. Getting more students into these programs at an earlier age will be even more beneficial in helping determine high school coursework and what higher learning options might be appropriate to help them achieve their future goals. This could be a huge workforce development program with no cost to the taxpayers.”

The new law, which goes into effect July 1, 2021, further directs the State Board of Education to review apprenticeships, internships, and mentorships to determine their eligibility for academic credit towards graduation requirements.

Bill expanding high school apprenticeship program becomes law
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Commentary: Cole Bill is Bad for Small Tribes Bad for Oklahomas Diverse Citizenry and Bad for America

5/11/2021

Pat McGuigan

Oklahoma City – Now comes from Washington, the latest formula for dysfunctional government, irrational economic policy and abuse of Oklahoma’s Small Tribes, small business and mid-size states.

All this, from the mind of no less a Republican than U.S. Representative Tom Cole.

Based on a draft version of the legislation, as distilled by reporters for NonDoc.com today (Tuesday, May 11), I believe that Cole’s latest effort at a “land fix” for the two most powerful Oklahoma tribes (the Chickasaw and the Cherokee) is bad for small tribes, bad for Oklahoma’s diverse citizenry, and bad for America. The proposed legislation would worsen the most negative effects of 'McGirt v. Oklahoma,' the most important legal decision in state history.

The practical effect of Cole’s measure would be to :

* Keep all property matters like environmental taxation and oil and gas in the hands of the two Big Tribes.

* Crush the opportunity of smaller tribes like the UKB (United Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians) and Comanche – who were granted rights to acquisitions within Cherokee territory (in the case of the UKB) and Casino-development rights in Love County in separate compact with the state.

Cole’s proposed law would give veto power to the big tribes over all land-into-trust acquisitions.

* Allow Big Tribes to buy the entirety of their reservations back and claim they are restricted under 25 U.S.C. 177 which previously did not convert them to “Indian Country” but which now would via the “Indian” Lands definition in the Cole bill.

* Allow dozens of dubious casino acquisitions for the big tribes to be further legitimized by ratifying them as Indian Lands.

* Keep all property matters like environmental taxation and oil and gas in the hands of these Big Tribes.

Note: McGuigan is editor of The City Sentinel newspaper, and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com.

Commentary: Cole Bill is Bad for Small Tribes, Bad for Oklahoma’s Diverse Citizenry, and Bad for America
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Critical Race Theory is Passion Thinking: A Commentary

5/11/2021

Steve Fair

Critical Face Theory (CRT) is an academic movement of civil rights activists who seek to critically examine the law on issues of race. Advocates of CRT believe social problems are influenced and created by society and culture because racism is inherent in skin color.

Critics of CRT say CRT elevates storytelling over absolute truth, revises history and automatically assumes white supremacy by whites. CRT dates back to the 1970s when law school professors, activists and attorneys examined why civil rights victories had stalled and in their estimation were eroding. The ‘hate crime’ legislation that has made its way into law was birthed in the CRT movement.

House Bill 1775, authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. David Bullard, will prohibit Oklahoma public schools, colleges and universities from incorporating certain messages about sex and race into any course instruction. The bill would also prohibit requiring mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling in the schools.

H.B. 1775 passed the House 70-19 and the Senate 38-9, and then went to It is the governor’s desk.

Before Stitt made his decision on the legislation, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission requested Governor Kevin Stitt veto it.

"If this bill becomes law it will have serious implications on teaching the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in schools, as well as much of the history of the U.S. which is rife with racism, sexism and discomfort," said Phil Armstrong, project director for the Commission.

Two observations:

First, racism is not an inherited trait. There is no evidence there is a racism gene. Every person is born with an inherit sin nature.

The got it from their father, who got it from his father, all the way back to Adam. That depravity/wickedness/sin can manifest itself in racism, but not every white person is a racist simply because they are white. To condemn every person as racist because of the color of their skin is the height of racism.

Second, H.B. 1775 does not stop the teaching of history. Armstrong is being intellectually dishonest with that statement. The language of H.B. 1775 doesn’t state or even infer that incidents of race riots and violence be ignored.

The bill specifically states that no teacher, administrator or other employee of a school district, charter school or virtual charter school shall require or make part of a course the following concepts: (a) one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex, (2) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, (3) an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.

“This bill will in no way stop the teaching of history or anything currently in our Oklahoma education standards, including curriculum that shows historical examples of racism or genocide. This bill simply says that teachers can’t force a student to answer that they are inherently racist or sexist or that they must feel personally responsible for things perpetrated in the past by people of a similar race or gender,” Rep. (Kevin) West said during the recent period of debate.

H.B. 1775, as signed, goes into effect immediately and requires the state Regents and the state Board of Education to implement the changes in the bill.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 1775. Oklahomans should thank the chief executive for his decision to put the law into effect.

Children should be taught critical thinking skills. CRT is passive thinking and rooted in Marxism. Oklahoma students should never be subjected to it.

NOTE: Steve Fair is conservative commentator whose essays often appear at CapitolBeatOK.com, an independent, non-partisan news organization based in Oklahoma City. Fair is Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party in the state’s Fourth Congressional District. Steve can be reached by email at okgop@aol.com. His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.

Critical Race Theory is Passion Thinking: A Commentary
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Analysis: The more things change the more they remain the same Managed Care for Medicaid (Expansion this time) in Oklahoma

5/10/2021

Pat McGuigan

Oklahoma City – When voters decided narrowly, but clearly, to expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid system to new populations, they also infused new urgency into a long-standing debate.

Namely, how to improve health care outcomes in the most vulnerable populations.

Things have changed only a little, since I dove into the Managed Care issue back in February 2018.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) operates the Medicaid system, which has run on a fee-for-service basis.

When a provider performs a service they send a bill to OHCA and get a check in the mail. The costs of delivering care have grown over time, and there have been only a few tools available to Oklahoma to control cost growth – even as health outcomes remained less than desirable.

Despite continual spending increases, Oklahoma has not received hoped-for return (in the form of improved quality, outcomes or access) on that long-standing investment.

The system already siphons critical funding that might go to other state programs. Do we really believe there has been enough accountability within the current system serving 1 million Oklahomans, a quarter of all state residents? (When the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, a few years back, ran out of money to treat the flu epidemic, it was proof that the current system has not equipped well enough to handle this sort of stress.)

Can Oklahoma do better?

A 2018 study from the Oklahoma Association of Health Plans (OAHP) asserted that modernizing Medicaid could prevent these types of scenarios from happening in the future while serving to modernize the health care delivery system.

Entering contracts for a Managed Care system, the state can pay one lump sum to managed care organizations, or MCOs.

With voters having decided the issue expansion, implementing Managed Care provides Oklahoma with the ability to at least manage the growth of Medicaid spending, improve health outcomes, increase access and drive innovation to create a truly modernized Medicaid program.

Kaitlyn Finley, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) analyst I’ve cited previously, had another fine essay last week, entitled “Oklahoma House seeks to grow state health agency.”

She was digging into the Marcus McEntire proposal (Senate Bill 131) that would create a new chunk of bureaucracy within OHCA to invent what already exists: Managed Care models.

Stick with me on this. She wrote, “The number of Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees has grown significantly relative to the general state population over the past two decades, leading to a sharp increase in expenditures.

“With expansion coming down the pike, this would be the worst time to throw hundreds of millions of dollars towards the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement managed care. They do not have the time, infrastructure, or incentives to implement managed care effectively or efficiently.”

Taking her ever-measured approach, she pondered the recent effort to spike the chief executive’s considered program to implement the voter’s will between now and the fall, when Medicaid Expansion must take effect. She concluded: “Instead of further growing government and reinventing the managed-care wheel, the legislature should reject [Senate Bill 131] and adopt Gov. Stitt’s plan to manage Medicaid costs.”

Back to the future, y’all

Haley Faulkenberry, executive director of the OAHP, in a straight-forward commentary for The Oklahoman on Sunday, April 30, pointed out, “Medicaid managed care is a well-established and highly successful model that’s already been adopted by 40 U.S. states. These states partner with managed care organizations (MCOs) to administer Medicaid benefits because it’s the only model with the structure, tools and resources needed to address today’s complex health care needs.”

She observes, “Health care is about more than just seeing a doctor when you feel sick — everything from where you live to what you eat can have a significant effect on your long-term health and wellbeing. What’s called the fee-for-service model, the current model for administering Medicaid in Oklahoma, brings a short-term fix to these types of issues.

“This model sees each doctor visit and test ordered as a separate event, often measuring a patient’s experience by the number of services rendered. The model wasn’t created to look at health issues holistically and does not have the infrastructure or the right incentives to proactively identify and improve health outcomes at the community level.

“The Medicaid managed care model is instead built for health outcomes — focused on the unique needs of individuals and communities. MCOs take the time and resources to invest and address local health care needs.”

Continuing the Faulkenberry narrative: “MCOs can deploy locally based staff who visit every county and community to understand population health, and work with local organizations to identify where certain types of care or social services are needed most. MCOs can provide not only immediate value to patients but they also invest in measures, such as community support services, that can improve health outcomes over the long term.

“MCOs also invest in resources for providers. MCOs in Oklahoma will have dedicated provider support staff working alongside providers all across the state. This team will help doctors and hospitals manage the billing and claims processes, provide training and continued education opportunities, and share critical data and insights about the health of their patients. The state would not be able to hire and adequately manage this type of support team on its own.”

Faulkenberry noted: “Administrative costs in Medicaid managed care also support the coordination efforts necessary to make Medicaid work better for everyone in Oklahoma. An effective program to improve health outcomes for the Medicaid population and ensure Oklahoma spends its health dollars wisely, requires a strong administrative function that allows for oversight and investment in key areas.

“Managed care organizations bring the technology, innovation and expertise of the private sector and will partner closely with Oklahoma to build the more modern Medicaid program we need. Oklahoma has been ranked in the bottom of health outcomes for far too long. It’s time to deliver a modern health system that is proven and is successfully advancing health outcomes in other states across the nation.”

If it’s true that even when things change, they sort of remain the same, keep in mind how we began this humble series reporting and analyzing on the governor’s plant to implement Managed Care of Medicaid Expansion.

Managed Care and Lives Saved

Both Ray Carter of the Center for Independent Journalism and this writer have pointed out – not ad nauseam, but consistently – the pragmatic side of at least seeking to slow the growth of already-surging Medicaid expenditures, where and when possible.

But here’s the deal: Managed Care in general and the system in Florida specifically can point to good results for patients. In March, I pointed to a then-new peer-review study that found strongly positive results in combating COVID deaths for a sample of nearly 39,000 Floridians in a Managed Care program.

The analysis cited, from the American Journal of Managed Care found that Cano Health’s “population health management program reduced COVID-19 mortality by 60 percent, compared to a mirror group of Florida patients.”

That “retrospective cohort study” included 38,193 MCPs (Managed Care Patients) in the Sunshine State who were monitored, the AJMC report said, “for COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and mortality.” That cohort was “compared with a mirror group from the state of Florida.”

The abstract summary of reported results were striking: “The mean (SD) age among the MCPs was 67.9 (15.2) years, and 60 [percent] were female. Older age and hypertension were the most important factors in predicting COVID-19. Obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and congestive heart failure (CHF) were linked to higher rates of hospitalizations. Patients prescribed off-label outpatient medications had 73 [percent] lower likelihood of hospitalization (P<.05). Compared with the mirror group, MCPs had 60 [percent] lower COVID-19 mortality (P<.05).”

A trio of reporters for Read Frontier (April 30) marched through some of the point/counter-points of the Managed Care debate.

In the wrap-up of that “fact check” exercise, they reported, “Under federal law, OHCA as a state agency has restraints on which services it can pay for. Managed care companies, in contrast, have the flexibility to pay for a wider variety of preventive care treatments.”

Note: This is part of a continuing series of analyses on the debate over Managed Care of Medicaid Expansion in Oklahoma. Pat McGuigan is editor of The City Sentinel newspaper and founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news service.

Analysis: The more things change, the more they remain the same – Managed Care for Medicaid (Expansion, this time) in Oklahoma
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK

Pat McGuigan

The dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know.

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