Letter to the Editor: Decision questioned
BY Bob Lawrence, Tulsa
Saturday, February 16, 2013
2/16/13 at 7:26 AM
In her recent State of the State address, Gov. Mary Fallin again stated her opposition to the federally financed Medicaid expansion that would, in addition to other benefits, provide health insurance to about 180,000 uninsured Oklahomans.
Instead, she proposed the development of an "Oklahoma Plan." Her plan had four main points. Three of her points will require the expenditure of additional state tax dollars (the fourth involves allowing local control of smoking regulations). So, instead of spending less Oklahoma tax revenue to insure Oklahomans, increase mental health services, increase pre-natal care and provide medical care to incarcerated persons, Gov. Fallin's "Oklahoma Plan" would spend more money and get us less benefit.
Clearly, her decision to refuse the Medicaid expansion is not based in economics. What, then, is she using as her criteria?
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