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Jun 26 2013

The Obama Administration’s Decision Terminates the Insure Oklahoma Program

In June 2012, the Supreme Court in ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s forced expansion of the Medicaid program was unconstitutional. Since that ruling, the Obama Administration appointees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) have been strongly encouraging states to expand their Medicaid programs.

The Insure Oklahoma program operates under a Medicaid “wavier.” Waivers are vehicles states can use to test new or existing ways to deliver and pay for health care services in Medicaid. On March 29, 2013, the state of Oklahoma requested an extension of the Insure Oklahoma program, under its Section 1115 Medicaid waiver (which is one of four types of possible Medicaid waivers).

On May 7, CMS denied that request. CMS Medicaid Director Cindy Mann told Oklahoma
that the agency would not extend the waiver for Insure Oklahoma, without making changes.  Mann also suggested the state consider using a premium assistance program to tap into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.

Oklahoma Mary Fallin offered a pointed response to the CMS decision. She said she found it  “outrageous” that Obama Administration was “actively dismantling the successful health care programs established by states in order to force citizens onto Obamacare health insurance plans.” 

Dr. Coburn shares Governor Fallin's concerns. CMS’s decision is concerning because it effectively terminates the Insure Oklahoma program – a program that many Oklahomans have found to be a flexible and successful public-private partnership.  Even worse, it appears that some in the Administration are putting arbitrary political goals ahead of the best interests of states.

Related Materials:

  • Oklahoma’s letter to CMS to request an extension of the Insure Oklahoma program.
  • CMS’s response to Oklahoma, denying the renewal of the Insure Oklahoma program.
  • Governor Mary Fallin’s statement on CMS’s decision to not renew the Insure Oklahoma program.
  • To learn more about Insure Oklahoma or SoonerCare in Oklahoma, view the 2012 annual report here.
  • In October 2012, Dr. Coburn sent Governor Fallin a letter highlighting his concerns with any consideration of expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma.  The following month he applauded her decision not to expand Medicaid.
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