Groups to Oklahoma governor: Withdraw Medicaid plan now

March 20, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Seven national organizations representing patients with serious medical conditions criticized Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday for rolling out his Medicaid expansion plan during the coronavirus pandemic.

The organizations, including the American Heart Association and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, released a statement calling for the state to withdraw its application immediately.

“Starting the 30-day public comment period on SoonerCare 2.0, which if implemented in its current form could trigger grave consequences for Oklahomans, while families worry about their lives and livelihoods is completely inappropriate,” the statement read.

Stitt wants to take advantage of a block-grant-style Medicaid expansion offered by the Trump administration that would give states more control over Medicaid in exchange for a limit on how much the feds kick in. One requirement Stitt wants to impose would make recipients pay premiums and either work or volunteer in the community.

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