Following the model of last year’s bi-partisan, bi-cameral Medical Marijuana Working Group, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall formed a work group to address healthcare, including the issues surrounding Medicaid expansion. An advocacy group on Wednesday will begin collecting signatures to bring the Medicaid expansion decision to voters; putting pressure on lawmakers to either come up with their own solution or prepare for the possibility voters will approve expansion.
The Healthcare Working Group will meet weekly beginning in August. Eighteen lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, along with two appointees by Governor Stitt, will comprise the work group.
McCall and Treat believe this work group model will generate solutions.
“The State Question 788 working group was successful because it brought everyone together and let everyone have a voice,” said McCall. “We also had the advantage of knowing what worked well in other states and what had not, which helped us craft a final product in a way that tried to meet the unique needs of not only the supporters but also those who had concerns with the state question. Healthcare is a very complex issue, and there is no cookie-cutter approach that is going to drive down costs, improve care and increase access. It is going to take a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that considers not just what is wrong with the system but also what is working, and also what has worked and not worked in other states. That means we need to bring everyone together – patients, providers, policy experts, insurance carriers, facilities and state agencies – and find a way forward. That discussion must include everything, not just Medicaid expansion, and it will need to continue until we have a solution that works for our citizens unique needs.”
“Health care is an important topic nationally and locally,” said Treat. “We can and must do better as a state to improve our health care outcomes. Like we did previously with the House and Senate committee on medical marijuana, I’m confident this group will take a serious look at the issue and give useful recommendations for the Legislature to consider as we work to improve Oklahomans’ access to quality, affordable health care.”
The Healthcare Working Group members are listed below.
Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, co-chair
Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, co-chair
Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford
Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany
Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay
Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa
Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee
Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow
Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater
Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City
Sen. Kim David, R-Porter
Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa
Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore
Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City
Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow
Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City
Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City
Carter Kimble, Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Health
Samantha Davidson, Policy Director, Office of the Governor
