| Policy Matters: We can't celebrate Medicaid's legacy without fighting for its future This month marks 60 years since the creation of Medicaid, a cornerstone of our country's promise to care for our friends and family. As we celebrate Medicaid's 60th anniversary, we should not only recognize its legacy, we must protect its future. That means rejecting harmful cuts and further red tape, investing in provider access and community-based services, and ensuring that everyone — regardless of income, ZIP code, age, or health status — has access to quality, affordable care. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] |
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You're invited to join a Community Listening Session near you! This summer, the Oklahoma Policy Institute and Together Oklahoma are hosting in-person listening sessions across the state to hear directly from Oklahomans about the issues that matter most in their communities. These free, public events offer a chance to connect with neighbors, share your experiences, and speak with policy experts. Participants will receive compensation for their time. Make your voice heard—find a session near you and join the conversation. Make Your Voice Heard — In Person or Online Can't attend in person? Take our online survey (available in English and Spanish) and share your thoughts about the laws and policies that affect you and your neighbors. Your input helps shape our priorities for the next legislative session to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities across Oklahoma. |
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"The reason legislators put out press releases every three hours and go on the news all the time is because they don't have a lot of influence in the building. … The number of disruptive members — those trying to burn it all down rather than do the work — has increased in recent years. It's a function of the times we live in." – David Blatt, Research Director at the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, reflecting on lessons learned during his years working around the state Capitol. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] |
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312 - The number of avoidable deaths per 100,000 people in the U.S. as of 2022 — nearly twice the rate seen in countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The figure reflects major gaps in the nation's health care access, prevention, and outcomes. [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] 12% - The percentage that Oklahoma's fertility rate has dropped since 2011 — one of the steepest declines in the region — according to new data from Pew. While fewer births can mean short-term savings in education and health care, this trend poses long-term risks to the state's workforce, tax base, and ability to fund public services. [Pew Research Center] 21% - The share of all prison admissions in Oklahoma in 2021 attributed to probation or parole violations. Over a third of these admissions were for technical infractions — like missing check-ins or failing a drug test — rather than new criminal activity. [Council of State Governments Justice Center] $87 billion - The estimated loss in hospital revenue for rural areas between 2025 and 2034 under the federal budget bill. Cuts to Medicaid and ACA Marketplace support would hit rural providers especially hard, threatening services in already underserved communities. [Urban Institute] |
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Work Requirements Work requirements are policies that oblige recipients of certain public programs to be employed or engage in work-related activities for a certain number of hours each month in order to remain eligible for benefits. As of May 2025, work requirements are in effect for most recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and certain categories of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, primarily adults aged 18-54. For SNAP, individuals subject to the work requirement must typically engage in 80 hours a month of paid or unpaid work or participate in a work program. Under the first Trump Administration, over a dozen states, including Oklahoma, enacted work requirements for working-age adults covered by Medicaid. However, only Arkansas implemented its requirements before a federal court deemed the work requirement unlawful in the absence of Congressional authorization. When Arkansas' work requirements were in effect, studies found that more than 18,000 people — nearly 1 in 4 who were subject to the new rules — lost their coverage in the policy's first seven months, primarily as a result of administrative barriers. Research finds that two-thirds of non-elderly adults on Medicaid are already working, while most others are not in a position to work since they are either disabled or have caregiving responsibilities. The second Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans have made adding new Medicaid work requirements and stricter SNAP work requirements one of their highest priorities as part of efforts to reduce federal social spending. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. |
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Opinion: Reflections of top lawmakers from Oklahoma's public policy leader Every time David Blatt talks about challenges facing Oklahoma, he centers on one point: poverty. The state ranks in the middle nationally for median income but at the bottom in nearly every well-being indicator from education to health. Blatt has spent nearly 30 years trying to figure that out and comes up with an answer about mixed effects. Blame it on the tax structure, the spending priorities, the cultural distrust of government and the reality that too many Oklahomans are in jobs that don't pay enough to cover life's necessities. "Oklahoma is not a poor state — we just play one on TV," Blatt said. [Read the full op-ed by Ginnie Graham in Tulsa World] |
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As Oklahoma closes last private prison, there are indications 2 may reopen for ICE detainees: CoreCivic, one of the largest private jail operators, has expressed interest in reopening two closed private prison facilities in Sayre and Watonga. As part of the federal reconciliation bill, $45 billion is allocated to open more immigration detention facilities—a significant portion to go to reopen private prisons. It is already in the works in Leavenworth, Kansas, but there is pushback. A lawsuit calls that jail "an absolute hell hole." [KJRH] | [Video via YouTube] Takers and makers, do California and other 'donor' states help others across U.S.?: When it comes to the U.S. tax system, there are maker and taker states. Some states take more federal dollars than they contribute, including Oklahoma. With Oklahoma being a taker state, that adds up to almost $32 billion in federal taxes coming into the state. For every dollar we pay in federal takes, we get about $1.85 back. [KFOR] Oklahoma's fertility rate continues to decline, report finds: Fertility rates in Oklahoma and around the nation are on a "decades long downward trend" which has the potential to create state budget shortfalls, according to a report from Pew Charitable Trusts. Factors contributing to the decline include fewer teen pregnancies, women having children later in life and less births following economic recessions, according to the report. [Oklahoma Voice] |
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The 2026 health and health care budget: The 2026 federal health budget makes deep cuts to essential public health infrastructure, biomedical research, and pandemic preparedness. Major agencies like the CDC and NIH face significant reductions, threatening progress on chronic disease prevention, global health security, and medical innovation. These cuts risk long-term harm to public health and disproportionately impact the communities already facing the greatest barriers to care. [The Brookings Institution] How Record-Low Fertility Rates Foreshadow Budget Strain: Fertility rates across the U.S. have fallen to record lows, with every state experiencing a decline in 2023. While fewer births can bring short-term budget relief — such as reduced costs for education and child health services — the long-term consequences are more sobering: a shrinking workforce, slower economic growth, and greater strain on programs that rely on a stable tax base. To ensure long-term fiscal stability, policymakers should begin exploring strategies that support working families, strengthen the labor force, and prepare public systems for the demographic shifts ahead. [Pew Research Center] One Size Fits None: How 'standard conditions' of probation set people up to fail: Standard probation conditions often criminalize everyday behavior and grant officers excessive discretion to define violations, creating barriers for marginalized individuals with complex needs. These uniform rules — covering fees, employment mandates, drug testing, association restrictions, appearance, and vague "good conduct" directives — overload people on probation and set them up for failure. Reform should focus on tailoring supervision, minimizing financial and administrative burdens, and limiting arbitrary power to better support rehabilitation and reduce unnecessary incarceration. [Prison Policy Initiative] How Might Federal Medicaid Cuts in the Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill Affect Rural Areas?: The Senate's reconciliation bill slashes federal Medicaid funding by over $1 trillion over the next decade, hitting rural communities particularly hard — with rural areas expected to lose far more than the modest $50 billion rural health fund intended to offset losses. This reduction threatens essential rural services like hospital care, maternal health, and emergency treatment and could force closures, staffing cuts, and reduced quality of care. Policymakers and advocates warn that the most underserved regions could face worsening health access, increased uninsured rates, and broader strain on rural health systems. [KFF] |
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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. |
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