Oklahoma Democrat calls for Medicaid reconsideration
BY Associated Press
Friday, February 15, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma Democrat is asking some of her fellow lawmakers to reconsider their opposition to federal health care reform.
State Sen. Constance Johnson was one of two dissenting votes in the Senate Finance Committee's Wednesday approval of a bill calling for reforming or eliminating parts of the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Acts.
The bills aim to increase the number of Americans with health insurance by expanding Medicaid and making insurance more affordable. Opponents said proposals are too expensive and intrusive.
Republican Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has refused to include the state in the federal program.
Johnson said Oklahoma's slipping health rankings and rising costs can be tied to the fact that one in six Oklahomans don't have insurance.
