Oklahoma Democrats want the state to expand Medicaid, and they may have a shot this session.
At a budget summit Thursday in Oklahoma City, State Sen. Roger Thompson was asked why Oklahoma hasn't expanded Medicaid, which would bring in $900 million in federal funding. Thompson chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"If we do it, we’ll have a $100 million exposure on the front end of that. We can do that at this particular time. It is a conversation we’re willing to have," Thompson said.
Thompson said he has reservations about the federal government meeting its 90 percent match funding obligation for Medicaid expansion, which has happened in other cases where less in matching funds were offered.
"There’s a difference there, if there’s a highway we cannot build because of that and somebody that we have expanded their Medicaid to that we can no longer afford," Thompson said. "And so, I just saw — for the discussion — Insure Oklahoma, SoonerCare, great things to be there, but we’re not dealing with asphalt. We’re dealing with people’s lives."
Thompson also cited the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clawing back last year millions in federal dollars the state spent on its medical schools because a waiver thought to be in place for years had not been approved.
House Minority Leader Emily Virgin said she commends Thompson after years of Republicans stonewalling Medicaid expansion for one reason or another.
"The president who passed this program was very unpopular in Oklahoma, and I think that’s probably the No. 1 reason. Luckily, we are past some of that, I think," Virgin said.
Virgin said opposition to expanding any entitlement program and misinformed budget concerns have also deterred Oklahoma Republican lawmakers.
