A lawmaker will challenge the plan to help illegal immigrants who are pregnant.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Health Care Authority voted 6-1 on Thursday to approve a controversial measure that will allow pregnant illegal immigrants to receive prenatal care.

However. Rep. Randy Terrill, R- Moore, said he intends to challenge the board's action at a regular meeting in Ada when the Legislature returns to session.

Terrill, a critic of illegal immigration who had called on the board to pull the rule from its agenda, said he's "disappointed but not surprised" by the vote.

"What they're doing is clearly in violation of federal law," he said, adding that he plans to ask Attorney General Drew Edmondson for an opinion on the matter.

Gov. Brad Henry has said he supports the board's action and considers the issue a "pro-life, pro-health proposal."

"The governor appreciates the board's work and will approve the rule as soon as he receives the paperwork," said Paul Sund, a spokesman for Henry.

The rule allows poor pregnant women who do not qualify for Medicaid to receive prenatal care as long as the child will be a citizen upon birth.

The women will not qualify for full Medicaid benefits, according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The coverage is limited to care that is needed to provide the best possible outcome for the newborn.

The rule takes effect Jan. 1.

A dozen other states, including Texas and Arkansas, have approved similar measures.

But Terrill called the move "an attempt, by tugging at the heartstrings, to backdoor an expansion of government-run health care."

Oklahoma taxpayers will pay about $1.2 million of the program's $3 million cost.The state will bill the federal government for the remaining $1.8 million.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, said, "In addition to valuing the life of a child, this rule also embraces the concept of fiscal responsibility by allowing Oklahoma to recover two-thirds of the costs associated with prenatal care to unborn babies from the federal government."

He said the board's approval sends an "important message" about Oklahoma's values.

"Anyone who questions the decision by the OHCA to offer this fair shot at life to innocent children is sending a dangerous and hypocritical message that they do not embrace a culture of life," Morgan said.

In fiscal year 2006, which ended this summer, the authority paid more than $8.5 million for 2,778 babies who were delivered to illegal immigrants who did not receive prenatal care, according to the agency.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is the state's Medicaid agency, which administers a budget of nearly $4 billion to help poor people.

The share of the budget for prenatal care for all poor women represents less than 1 percent of the agency's budget.

Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, who supported the board's action, said unborn children "are not responsible for the conditions in which they find themselves."

"As far as I'm concerned, we're going to do a better job at making sure pregnant women deliver a healthy baby," he said.

Angel Riggs (405) 528-2465
angel.riggs@tulsaworld.com