Oklahoma high court rejects challenge on Medicaid expansion

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s highest court on Tuesday rejected a legal effort to block a plan for a public vote on whether to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of poor residents.

Just hours after hearing oral arguments in the case, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected the challenge spearheaded by a conservative think-tank that has long opposed making the federally funded health insurance program available to more people.

The court’s decision authorized supporters to proceed with gathering the nearly 178,000 signatures they will need to get the question on the ballot. The plan was challenged by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which argued that the proposed ballot language doesn’t accurately describe what the measure does.

Here are some things to know about Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma:

Read more: https://www.swtimes.com/news/20190618/oklahoma-high-court-rejects-challenge-on-medicaid-expansion
(Fort Smith Times Record)