[In The Know] Oklahoma primaries today | Voters to decide SQ 802 | Tulsa remains virus hot spot | Changes in Gov.'s cabinet

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy Oklahoma’s primary is today: Get out and vote (safely): On Tuesday, Oklahomans will go to the polls for the statewide primary election, which also includes State Question 802 to expand Medicaid. If you have not already cast an absentee ballot or participated in early voting, polls will be open for in person voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. We encourage all Oklahomans to cast their ballots safely during this election, and we're sharing some additional tips for those voting today. We also encourage a YES vote for SQ 802 because Medicaid expansion has a proven track record to creating healthier communities. [OK Policy]  Medicaid expansion can address Oklahoma’s mental health and criminal justice needs: To have any hope of aspiring to “top 10” status in fighting mental illness and addiction, Oklahoma needs a large infusion of dollars into the Oklahoma Departement of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. As luck would have it, that may now be possible. More than 313,000 Oklahomans signed the petition for State Question 802, which would expand Medicaid coverage that would pump over $1 billion annually into Oklahoma health care. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News Oklahoma voters to decide whether to expand Medicaid: Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of low-income residents and become the first state to amend their Constitution to do so. While an increasing number of Oklahoma voters took advantage of mail-in voting for Tuesday’s primary, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide. [AP News] Tribal officials look to Oklahoma primary for Medicaid expansion [NonDoc] Oklahoma set to hold state's first election during coronavirus pandemic [KOCO] From suggested masks to unprecedented mail-in absentee ballot numbers, state braces for first pandemic election [Tulsa World] Oklahomans urged to wear a mask to vote Tuesday [The Oklahoman] Record number of mail-in votes for Tuesday primary [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Votes: June 30 Primaries [KOSU] What you need to know about today’s elections in Colorado, Oklahoma and Utah [FiveThirtyEight] ‘America, are you listening?’ A civil rights leader unmasks the risks many are taking [Commentary / Oklahoma Watch] Editorial: It's time for the people to speak [Tulsa World Editorial] Tulsa area remains hot spot; surge in cases at poultry plant in southeast: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 spiked in Oklahoma in the last week of June, with more than 2,600 new cases reported by the Oklahoma State Health Department. Young and middle-aged adults made up most of the new cases from June 19 to June 26. [Oklahoma Watch] COVID-19: Death toll at 385 as cases rise by 228 across Oklahoma [Tulsa World] Mobile testing sites seeing surge in demand [CNHI via The Duncan Banner] Dozens of Oklahoma businesses temporarily closing due to coronavirus spike [KOSU] New OSU re-opening guidelines include face coverings for all employees and students [Stillwater News Press] 'I really hadn't thought about who would care for me and my well-being because my mom did that' [KOSU] People camp outside Oklahoma unemployment office overnight in hope of getting help: At least 200 people lined up Monday at Oklahoma’s unemployment office, desperate for help as some have waited months to get unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic. [KOCO] Black Lives Matter OKC leader criticizes DA for protest charges: The executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City on Monday called the filing of criminal charges against protesters deeply disturbing, heartbreaking and an "instance of oppression." [The Oklahoman] Multiple OKC protestors charged with terrorism, rioting, assault and battery [KOSU] OSU students, community march for Black lives [Stillwater News Press] OSU Students host March for Black Lives Juneteenth celebration [O'Colly] Health News As opioids flooded tribal lands across the U.S., overdose deaths skyrocketed: At the height of the opioid epidemic, Native Americans overdosed and died at a rate that rivaled some of the hardest-hit regions in Appalachia. Nationwide, from 2006 to 2014, Native Americans were nearly 50 percent more likely to die of an opioid overdose than non-natives, a Washington Post analysis found. [The Washington Post] Tribe steps up health service as pandemic numbers rise: Oklahoma saw an increase in positive COVID-19 cases over the past week, bringing the total number up to more than 13,000 statewide. And Cherokee Nation Health Services facilities remain vigilant in case of an increase in patient visits. [Tahlequah Daily Press] State Government News Key Stitt cabinet members on coronavirus stepping down: Two of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s key cabinet members at the forefront of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic announced Monday they are stepping down to return to their full-time jobs. [AP News] After about 15 months on the job, Secretary of Health and Mental Health Jerome Loughridge and Secretary of Science and Innovation Dr. Kayse Shrum are stepping down from their positions in Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet to return to their full-time careers. Shrum and Loughridge had been leaders within the Stitt administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [NonDoc] Both were volunteers in the Stitt administration and were juggling the duties of public service, along with their professional work. [The Oklahoman] Stitt announced their replacements on Monday with the appointment of Kevin Corbett as secretary of health and mental health and Elizabeth Pollard as secretary of science and innovation. [Tulsa World] Dozens of new Oklahoma laws to take effect July 1: Roughly two dozen new state laws will take effect in Oklahoma on Wednesday. Here’s a look at some of the new laws, which include cost-of-living adjustments, corrections employee pay raises, pay raises for poll workers, judicial pay raises, virtual charter school reforms, school sports safety, teaching certificates, local grocery stores, and carryover education funds. [The Oklahoman] Two new gaming compacts go into effect in Oklahoma: Despite pending lawsuits in both state and federal court, two new gaming compacts will go into effect. On Monday, the Department of Interior published the agreements in the Federal Register for compacts signed at the end of April between the state of Oklahoma and the Comanche Nation, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. [KOSU] But whether they will be allowed to remain in effect is an issue currently pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News Businesses ask Congress to bail out governments, sensing tax targets on their backs: City halls and statehouses are getting a boost in their scramble for federal aid from an unexpected source: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, whose primary job is to look out for big businesses, says if help doesn’t come, states and cities will likely lay off more workers, cut services and raise taxes, deepening the economic crisis. Businesses are concerned, especially about taxes. [Politico] Oklahoma lawmakers seek information about reported Russian bounties on US troops: Oklahoma lawmakers on Monday expressed deep concern about reports that Russia placed bounties on U.S. service members and troops from other Western countries serving in Afghanistan. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News 'We need this community to come together': Police chief asks for prayer, unity after officers shot during traffic stop: Police Chief Wendell Franklin asked for prayer while noting the situations his officers have faced in recent weeks — from the pressure of a search for two missing children to the anger directed at officers during protests against police brutality. [Tulsa World] One is a department veteran with a track record of problem solving, entrusted with training reserve officers and supervising novice officers. The other is just such a novice, only six weeks into patrol duty. [Tulsa World] Citing no evidence, police union claims 'anti-police rhetoric' played role in Tulsa Police officers' shooting: Citing no evidence, the head of Tulsa's local police union claimed in a statement that a "national anti-police narrative" played a role in the shooting of two Tulsa police officers during a traffic stop early Monday morning. [Public Radio Tulsa] “As I’ve spoken with police overnight and into this morning, we can’t help but see the work of the national anti-police narrative here,” Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Chairman Jerad Lindsey wrote on Facebook. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma County Jail Trust talks contracts, COVID-19 before July 1 takeover: Two days before officially taking over management of the county jail on July 1, the Oklahoma County Jail Trust shored up last-minute contracts and discussed the COVID-19 situation the new management team will be stepping into at the facility. [The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity North Tulsa grocery store breaks ground: On June 26, the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) broke ground on Oasis Fresh Market, a long-awaited grocery store for North Tulsa. The new Oasis Fresh Market is being built in a location known as a “food desert,” an area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or fresh food. [The Oklahoma Eagle] Economy & Business News With bankruptcies surging, 2020 may become one of the busiest years for Chapter 11 filings since the Great Recession: Twelve midsize to large corporations – all with more than $10 million in debt – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection during the third week of June, another consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and continued trouble in America’s oil industry. [The Oklahoman] Education News Tulsa school board approves calendar with COVID flexibility built in for 2020-21 school year: Major changes are coming this fall for Tulsa Public Schools, which will start the 2020-21 school year almost two weeks later than usual and implement district-wide distance learning on Wednesdays. The Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education approved an unprecedented calendar on Monday evening that changes the start date for the coming school year to Aug. 31 and the end date to June 8. The school year will consist of 152 instructional days lasting 436 minutes instead of the traditional 166 days lasting 400 minutes. [Tulsa World] OKC schools to offer in-person and virtual classes next year: The largest school district in Oklahoma is pushing toward traditional and virtual education in the 2020-21 school year with a device for every student, extensive health protocols and a possible increase to substitute teacher pay. [The Oklahoman] The plan this year is for the district to leverage technology to provide options upfront for parents and students as well as a smooth way to transition to all-virtual if the pandemic becomes worse in the fall and schools are ordered closed again. [Free Press OKC] Oklahoma Local News OSBI takes over Norman sexual assault investigation [The Oklahoman] Major County candidate to host private event for band tied to Nazi symbols [Enid News & Eagle] As events return to Expo Square, county turns to Tulsa Health Department for guidance [Tulsa World] 'Revive the spirit of Black Wall Street': Program for Black student entrepreneurs kicks off 12th summer with new $1,000 prize [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “When you look at the hospitals throughout rural Oklahoma, they’re the lifeblood of many of these communities. And if these hospitals go away, there is no emergency room to go get a COVID test. There is no place if you’re having a heart attack to go have someone save your life. There is no place to go if you have a stroke.” -Shawn Terry, Muscogee (Creek) Secretary of Health [NonDoc] Number of the Day 14%  Percentage of uninsured Oklahomans, which ranks the state second nationally for number of uninsured residents. [Source: Kaiser Family Foundation]  See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on States’ Budgets: To date, dozens of studies have documented the fiscal effects in expansion states. While the studies do not account for every possible impact, all find that the net cost of Medicaid expansion is well below the sticker price. In many cases, researchers have found that Medicaid expansion generates enough savings and/or new revenue to more than offset a state’s share of the cost. Building from these studies, researchers in at least eight nonexpansion states project similar savings and revenue, should their states expand Medicaid. [Commonwealth Fund] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

 

Oklahoma's primary is Tuesday | Get out and vote (safely)

View this email in your browser. On Tuesday, Oklahomans will go to the polls for the statewide primary election, which also includes State Question 802 to expand Medicaid.  If you have not already cast an absentee ballot or participated in early voting, polls will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.  We encourage all Oklahomans to cast their ballots safely during this election. County election boards across the state have taken extraordinary precautions to help protect voters. We created a helpful guide at togetherok.org to help understand what you need to know about voting in this upcoming election. In addition, here are some tips we can recommend: Go early when polls first open. Avoid lunch time or late afternoon when people are voting during breaks or after work. Take precautions that make you and others feel safer, such as wearing a mask or bringing your own hand sanitizer or wipes.  Double check that your polling place hasn’t moved. The State Election Board can help you find your polling place, as well as see a sample ballot before you go by visiting okvoterportal.okelections.us/ Note: if you have an absentee ballot to submit, it can be hand-submitted to your county election board no later than 5 p.m. today (Monday, June 29). You will need an ID to drop off an absentee ballot in person. - - -  In addition to state and local primaries, Tuesday’s election includes SQ 802. We encourage a YES vote on this important question because Medicaid expansion has a proven track record to positively impact communities. You can learn more about the issue by visiting our information and resources page at okpolicy.org/SQ802.  Passing SQ 802 would improve health in Oklahoma, result in a $2.3 billion annual economic impact while creating thousands of new jobs, and provide vital health care for more than 200,000 low-income Oklahomans who currently lack insurance.  Oklahoma companies and organizations (including the state’s largest business organizations, our state’s American Indian tribes, and churches and religious organizations) have expressed their support for SQ 802, saying it’s good for Oklahoma.  To help make good on this opportunity, we will need your help -- please vote YES on SQ 802 on Tuesday.  Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

[In The Know] Medical groups ask for enhanced virus protocols | SQ 802 vote on Tuesday | Racism in Oklahoma

View this email in your browser. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy SQ 802 will dramatically improve financial well-being in Oklahoma: On June 30, Oklahomans will decide State Question 802 that would add Medicaid expansion to the Oklahoma Constitution. Arguments in favor of SQ 802 have rightly been centered around its well-documented health effects. Expansion is a financial issue, as well. This is true both for the state and the families who will enroll in Medicaid. [Paul Shinn / OK Policy] SQ 802 is a win for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma: Beyond its enormous implications for our health care system, State Question 802, the ballot measure to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, is also a significant criminal justice issue. Nearly a decade of evidence shows that expanding Medicaid increases access to mental health and substance use treatment, supports diversion programs, and even correlates with reduced crime rates, particularly for communities of color and rural communities. Passing SQ 802 is a great opportunity to move our state’s work on criminal justice reform forward. [Damion Shade / OK Policy] What we know about Oklahoma’s 2020 legislative elections: Two years ago, Oklahomans participated in what were, in many ways, historic elections. As the June 30th primaries approach, we already know that the 2020 elections will look very different than 2018. [David Blatt / OK Policy] Oklahoma News Oklahoma State Medical Association asks Gov. Stitt to 'enhance' COVID-19 policy, encourage masks: The Oklahoma State Medical Association has asked Gov. Kevin Stitt to put more effort into convincing people to wear masks in public. “Too many people are still taking an ‘it’s not my problem’ approach to the virus,” Dr. George Monks, president of the OSMA, said in a statement released Thursday. [Tulsa World] Confirmed coronavirus cases approach 13,000 in Oklahoma [AP News] COVID-19: Another fatality reported with 302 new cases in Oklahoma [Tulsa World] Despite climbing COVID numbers, Oklahoma not yet on quarantine list [Tahlequah Daily Press] As cases surge in U.S., rural areas seeing increases as well [AP News] Second Mustang Public Schools student-athlete, assistant coach test positive for coronavirus [KOCO] Reporter at Trump’s Tulsa rally tests positive for COVID-19 [AP News] Trump’s rally drew people from dozens of virus hot spots [Bloomberg] Workers removed social distancing stickers before Trump's Tulsa rally, according to video and a person familiar with the setup [Star Tribune] Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps an integral part of Tulsa's COVID-19 pandemic response [Tulsa World] COVID-19 testing drew a record crowd in Norman last week. I was among them. [Oklahoma Watch] Voters in deep-red Oklahoma weigh Medicaid expansion as virus cases climb: If voters approve a ballot measure on Tuesday, Oklahoma would become the first state to broadly expand government-backed health insurance to many of its poorest residents since the beginning of a pandemic that has stripped many people of coverage. At the same time, that could scuttle the Trump administration’s efforts to make Oklahoma a test case for its plan to transform the entitlement program into a block grant. [Politico] Some business leaders come out in support of Medicaid expansion, but governor still opposed [Public Radio Tulsa] SQ 802: Voting on Medicaid expansion during a pandemic [NonDoc] Amid pandemic, Oklahomans to vote on Medicaid expansion [The Oklahoman] The basics on Medicaid expansion vote [Oklahoma Watch] At Heart of Medicaid Expansion Vote: What Program Would Cost Oklahoma [Oklahoma Watch] Voters to weigh in on State Question 802 which would expand Medicaid coverage [Tulsa World] Medicaid, GOP congressional primary top Oklahoma ballot [AP News] Trump faces another Oklahoma blow in Tuesday’s Medicaid expansion vote [Forbes] Rural Oklahoma needs Medicaid now: We urge people to vote 'yes' on SQ 802 [Op-Ed / Indian Country Today] Anoatubby: SQ 802 offers opportunity for Oklahoma [Op-Ed / The Ada News] Editorial: Managed care didn't work the first time around, but why should we learn anything from that experience? [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Segregated at birth: Oklahoma was raised on racism: While Oklahoma combats death and economic destruction brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, it also wrestles with an old virus brought to light by civil unrest. The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Breonna Taylor by Louisville police and Ahmaud Arbury by white vigilantes in Georgia has inspired protests around the globe, including several Oklahoma communities. [The Oklahoman] Some OKC protesters charged with terrorism, rioting, assault [The Oklahoman] ACLU slams DA over protest charges [The Oklahoman] Family of man who died after police stun gun incident sues city of Tulsa, individual officers [Tulsa World] Leaders call for unity within, outside Black community to effect local change [Enid News & Eagle] ‘We need reform’: Activists rally for racial equality in downtown Owasso [Tulsa World] Health News New rule means parents must take more steps to exempt children from vaccinations for nonmedical reasons: Gov. Kevin Stitt will allow the state health department to make it slightly more complicated for parents to exempt their children from school and child care center vaccinations for non-medical reasons. [Oklahoma Watch] Election News Dark money groups spend thousands ahead of June 30: The local arm of a national “dark money” group is linking state lawmakers to movie producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, following the lead of a separate national organization ahead of Oklahoma’s primary elections. [The Oklahoman] In the midst of a pandemic, Tuesday's election sure to be different: With the social and economic turmoil accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent protests centered on racial injustice and last weekend’s visit to Tulsa by President Donald Trump, the upcoming state and local elections may have slipped the minds of many. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma County commissioner raises more than $120,000 in less than four months: In the months a criminal investigation was hanging over his head, Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan put off raising any money for his 2020 campaign. He wasn't even sure if he would run for reelection. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Elections 2020: As the 2020 Oklahoma elections unfold, NonDoc has provided 2020 Oklahoma Legislature primary statewide previews and other election information. [NonDoc] State Government News Long wait: Unemployment agency playing catch up with jobless claims deluge: For hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans, applying for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs due to COVID-19 has meant being trapped in a nightmare of crashing web pages, hours-long hold times and promised call backs that never arrive. [Gaylord News / NonDoc] The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has scheduled two Oklahoma City events for people needing help processing their unemployment claims. [The Oklahoman] Photo gallery: Oklahomans wait hours to get unemployment help [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma to begin issuing Real IDs Monday: Oklahoma will begin issuing Real ID driver’s licenses Monday, making it one of the last states to seek compliance with federal legislation passed in 2005. [The Oklahoman] Lawsuit challenges changes in medical marijuana law: A Tulsa law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority for rejecting license renewals of medical marijuana dispensaries because of changes in state law made after the entities were licensed. [The Lawton Constitution] Federal Government News Shawnee Tribe sues feds over CARES Act funds: The Shawnee Tribe in northeast Oklahoma has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the Trump administration undercounted the tribe, costing them millions of dollars in CARES Act funds. [KOSU] Oklahoma members split on police reform, D.C. statehood bills: U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn joined other Democrats in approving legislation this week to ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants by police officers and create a national database for police misconduct. Three Republicans in the House from Oklahoma opposed the bill. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Fracking pioneer Chesapeake files for bankruptcy protection: Chesapeake Energy, a shale drilling pioneer that helped to turn the United States into a global energy powerhouse, has filed for bankruptcy protection. [AP News] The company announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 protections in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District Court of Texas “to facilitate a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring.” [NonDoc] Chesapeake Energy is the largest U.S. oil and gas producer to seek bankruptcy protection in recent years as it bowed to heavy debts and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on energy markets. [Reuters] Chesapeake CEO Doug Lawler reassured the company’s 1,900 employees Sunday that both they and the company have a future after it filed for bankruptcy protection. [The Oklahoman] Pandemic exposed flaws in meat production: An agricultural task force and Oklahoma’s CareerTech system are sinking their teeth into new training opportunities for meat processing jobs. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma State Fair cancelled due to COVID-19, a $100 million economic impact hit: The 2020 Oklahoma State Fair has been cancelled due to public health concerns around COVID-19. The unanimous vote happened Friday morning after months of discussions by the fair’s board of directors. [KOSU] Although the state fair has sometimes been modified — particularly during World War II — spokesman Scott Munz said this is the first time in the venerable event's history that it has been completely canceled. [The Oklahoman] Education News Oklahoma teachers worried about return to school amid coronavirus: A survey by the Oklahoma Education Association reveals educators' anxieties about coming back to school in fall 2020. More than 80 percent of educators who responded to the survey say they’re concerned about their own health next year. [KOSU] Tuition at Oklahoma colleges and universities will mostly remain flat: For most Oklahoma college students, tuition and fees won’t rise next year, and for those that do see an increase, it will only be by an average of 1.4 percent. [KOSU] General News ‘Through art, I hope that we can make one Tulsa’: Talking with two organizers of the movement to reclaim the long-ignored history of Black Wall Street and the Greenwood district’s achievements. [New York Times] 'Better prepared': OU medical students work to improve LGBTQ health care: Students and educators at the OU College of Medicine are marking Pride month by helping future health care providers better serve LGBTQ patients. [The Oklahoman] What's the real flood danger in Oklahoma? New data shows the risk to your home: As global climate change begins to make a home in the United States in the form of rising seas, punishing storms, and more intense rainfall, the federal government underestimates the flood risk for 61,474 households and properties in Oklahoma, a wide-ranging scientific analysis released Monday found. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News North Tulsa moves closer to having an 'Oasis' in a food desert [Tulsa World] Norman's homeless count down over 2019 numbers in January [Norman Transcript] Norman councilperson claims she was the intended target after neighbor was sexually assaulted [News9] Man displaying swastikas arrested for shooting woman taking flag [Enid News & Eagle] Ardmore's first ever Pride and Health Fair [KTEN] Quote of the Day “Too many people are still taking an ‘it’s not my problem’ approach to the virus.” -Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 0 Number of states that have rolled back their expanded coverage through Medicaid. [Source: Kaiser Family Foundation] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Medicaid expansion: Ten years of unparalleled return on investment, improved outcomes: Oklahomans will be voting on a known quantity on June 30th this year when considering State Question 802, a measure to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income Oklahoma adults between the ages of 19 and 64. This research shows that Medicaid expansion provides significant benefits not only for low-income adults in the U.S., specifically in states that expanded Medicaid, but also across local and state economies. No state has rolled back their expanded coverage through Medicaid, which perhaps serves as the best validation of the program’s strength. [OK Policy] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

 

[The Weekly Wonk] Oklahomans decide SQ 802 on Tuesday | Information, resources and analysis

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. This Week from OK Policy SQ 802 Reports and Analysis: New analyses from OK Policy and Families USA quantify benefits of Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma: Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma will create jobs, help the state budget and change lives, according to two new reports released by the Oklahoma Policy Institute (OK Policy) and Families USA. The two reports show the importance of an upcoming ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. [OK Policy] The economics of Oklahoma Medicaid expansion during pandemic and recession: Creating jobs, helping the state budget [Families USA] Medicaid expansion: Ten years of unparalleled return on investment, improved outcomes [Paul Shinn & MaryAnn Martin / OK Policy] SQ 802 will dramatically improve financial well-being in Oklahoma: Expansion is a financial issue. This is true both for the state and the families who will enroll in Medicaid. Without expansion, too many of our neighbors make health care decisions based on their finances rather than their health. The financial burden of health care leads many uninsured Americans to make do by relying on home remedies or over-the-counter medications, postponing medical care, and skipping a doctor’s visit altogether. [Paul Shinn / OK Policy] SQ 802 is a win for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma: Nearly a decade of evidence shows that expanding Medicaid increases access to mental health and substance use treatment, supports diversion programs, and even correlates with reduced crime rates, particularly for communities of color and rural communities. Passing SQ 802 is a great opportunity to move our state’s work on criminal justice reform forward. [Damion Shade / OK Policy] Policy Matters: Voting yes on SQ 802 is the right decision: Oklahomans have several important decisions to make in the upcoming statewide election, including which primary candidates to pick from and what health precautions to take if voting in-person on Tuesday. One question, though, is an easy choice – voting yes on State Question 802. [Ahniwake Rose / OK Policy] ASK OK Policy: State Question 802 (video): On June 30, Oklahomans will decide State Question 802, a measure that expands Medicaid coverage to low-income Oklahoma adults between the ages of 19 and 64. To help Oklahomans better understand the issue, our Policy Director and Health Care Analyst Carly Putnam discusses what Medicaid expansion is, the financial implications of SQ 802, and who would be covered by Medicaid expansion. [OK Policy via YouTube]  SQ 802 makes good fiscal sense for Oklahoma (video): Don Millican, who serves as the Immediate Past Board Chair for OK Policy’s Board of Directors, recently spoke about why SQ 802 is good fiscal policy for the state. Reducing the number of uninsured Oklahomans strengthens our economic position and makes good business sense. [OK Policy via YouTube] Additional OK Policy Publications and Analysis: KIDS COUNT 2020: Oklahoma ranks 45th for child well-being: Oklahoma children continue to lag behind most states when it comes to major health and well-being indicators, according to the 2020 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book published annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Oklahoma ranks 45th overall for child well-being, just ahead of Nevada, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. [OK Policy] OK Policy statement: Gov. Stitt press conference about June 25 Medicaid audit findings: “The Oklahoma Health Care Authority provides quality care, delivered efficiently, to hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans. The data presented during the briefing doesn’t immediately appear to align with findings from previous state and federal audits, which occur frequently and rigorously.” [Read the full statement] Voting in Oklahoma: Everything you need to know about voting in the June 30 statewide election: Today — Tuesday, June 23 — is the final day to request an absentee ballot for the June 30 election. Learn about absentee ballots and more using this handy resource from Together Oklahoma. [Emma Morris / Together Oklahoma] Weekly What’s That Medicaid expansion One of the primary provisions of the Affordable Care Act gives states the options to expand their Medicaid eligibility to include people below 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($16,735 per year for one person or $34,638 for a family of four). The costs of expansion were paid for in full by the federal government through 2016, before dropping down (and freezing at) 90 percent in 2020, well above the typical federal match. As of March 2019, 37 states, including Washington D.C., have expanded Medicaid. Oklahoma has opted not to, leaving billions in federal funding on the table, and more than 100,000 Oklahomans in a ‘coverage crater’ (too low-income to qualify for subsidies on the health insurance marketplace, too wealthy or not a member of a population group that is eligible to qualify for traditional Medicaid in Oklahoma). An initiative petition to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma, State Question 802, was launched in 2019 and gathered more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in 2020. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Quote of the Week “Business leaders in Tulsa agree that Medicaid expansion … is of critical importance to our future.” –Tulsa Regional Chamber Chairman Roger Ramseyer, vice president and Tulsa market leader for Cox Communications, in announcing the chamber’s support for SQ 802, which would give expanded Medicaid health coverage to working poor adults and help secure financially strapped health providers. [Tulsa World] Editorial of the Week COVID-19 changes almost everything, but it doesn't change the importance of voting This week’s election will surely go down as one of the oddest in state history. The COVID-19 pandemic changes almost everything, and nothing more than the process of representative democracy... We predict confusion. Some voters won’t know where to vote. Some substitute polling workers won’t know how to do the job. Anti-COVID-19 processes will probably slow down even the most efficient polling places. Democracy is often messy, but Oklahomans deserve better. One thing coronavirus doesn’t change is the importance of voting. [Tulsa World] Numbers of the Day 1 in 4 - Uninsured Black adults fall into the coverage gap, compared to 11% of White uninsured adults and 7% of Hispanic uninsured adults. This reflects the fact that a large share of uninsured Black adults resides in the southern region of the country where most states have not adopted the expansion. In contrast, Hispanics are less likely to fall into the gap since several key states that have large numbers of uninsured Hispanics have adopted the expansion, including California, New York, and Arizona. #2.3 billion - Amount of new economic activity expected to be generated in Oklahoma if it fully expands Medicaid.  34% - Percentage nationwide of uninsured Black adults in the coverage gap who would be newly eligible for health care if all states expanded Medicaid. The share among other races is 28% for people of color, 25% for Hispanics, and 23% for whites.  38% - Percentage of Medicaid workers nationwide who are employed in firms with fewer than 50 employees, which are not subject to ACA penalties for not offering affordable health coverage. Industries and occupations with the largest number of workers covered by Medicaid often include jobs that are physically demanding such as food service or construction. 42% - Percentage of LGBTQ youth who say the community in which they live is not accepting of LGBTQ people. See previous Numbers of the Day and sources here. What We’re Reading Inequities Amplified By COVID-19: Opportunities For Medicaid To Address Health Disparities [Health Affairs] Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma: Creating jobs, helping the state budget, and protecting families [Families USA] The impact of the coverage gap for adults in states not expanding Medicaid by race and ethnicity [Kaiser Family Foundation] The Implications of Medicaid Expansion in the Remaining States: 2020 Update [Urban Institute] Two Spirits, One Heart, Five Genders [Indian Country Today] Note: June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, which is celebrated each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.  Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe