Oklahoma is the latest state to reject the Medicaid expansion and health insurance exchange, which are part of President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin rejected the two measures, another Republican governor to do so. Recently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said they will not set up state-based insurance exchanges, meaning the federal government will step in and establish it, and 16 states in total (as of Nov. 19) have defaulted to a federal insurance exchange. Six other states have also said they will not expand Medicaid.
According to estimates from The Oklahoman, roughly 150,000 uninsured Oklahoma residents will not receive access to Medicaid coverage, and Oklahoma is turning down between $300 million and $500 million in federal Medicaid funds.
Gov. Fallin's move falls in line with the general Republican Party leadership's insistence to find ways to circumnavigate the PPACA, and she said the state made the decision based on collaboration with state lawmakers, stakeholders and other healthcare policymakers.
"Our priority has been to ascertain what can be done to increase quality and access to healthcare, contain costs and do so without placing an undue burden on taxpayers or the state," Gov. Fallin said in a statement. "As I have stated many times before, it is my firm belief that PPACA fails to further these goals, and will in fact decrease the quality of healthcare across the United States while contributing to the nation's growing deficit crisis."
A recent poll after election day, however, found only 33 percent support for a repeal of the PPACA — the lowest number that figure has hit since President Obama signed the bill into law more than 2.5 years ago.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin rejected the two measures, another Republican governor to do so. Recently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said they will not set up state-based insurance exchanges, meaning the federal government will step in and establish it, and 16 states in total (as of Nov. 19) have defaulted to a federal insurance exchange. Six other states have also said they will not expand Medicaid.
According to estimates from The Oklahoman, roughly 150,000 uninsured Oklahoma residents will not receive access to Medicaid coverage, and Oklahoma is turning down between $300 million and $500 million in federal Medicaid funds.
Gov. Fallin's move falls in line with the general Republican Party leadership's insistence to find ways to circumnavigate the PPACA, and she said the state made the decision based on collaboration with state lawmakers, stakeholders and other healthcare policymakers.
"Our priority has been to ascertain what can be done to increase quality and access to healthcare, contain costs and do so without placing an undue burden on taxpayers or the state," Gov. Fallin said in a statement. "As I have stated many times before, it is my firm belief that PPACA fails to further these goals, and will in fact decrease the quality of healthcare across the United States while contributing to the nation's growing deficit crisis."
A recent poll after election day, however, found only 33 percent support for a repeal of the PPACA — the lowest number that figure has hit since President Obama signed the bill into law more than 2.5 years ago.
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