June 25, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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YALL LOOK HUNGRY ! Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Medicaid expansion talk in Oklahoma The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City ‘The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday regarding a proposed state question to expand Medicaid toa population in Oklahoma that currently doesn’t qualify. Meantime, anew poll provides some interesting perspec- tive about voters’ views of the idea. Under the Affordable Care Act, states may add able-bod- ied adults to Medicaid with the federal government cover- ing 90 percent ofthe cost and states providing 10 percent. Supporters of expansion in Oklahoma want to see hundreds of millions of federal dollars returned to the state each year, saying it would improve individual health outcomes and help medical providers, especially rural hospitals. ‘The state question is being challenged by the conser- Notable lessons on vative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which takes issue with some of the language in the ballot question and questions whether the state constitution would allow for a provision in which the federal government dictates state Social Securit spending. But the OCPA has been arguing against expanding Medicaid since long before the state question was proposed, noting that some of the proposed benefits -- better health outcomes, economic growth -- aren’t a given, and that the state’s cost could increase dramatically, as has happened The Oklahoman, Oklahoma since Blahous and Robert the Social Security payroll have shown no stomach for elsewhere. City Reischauer served in 2015. tax would need to be raised addressing the trustees’ long- “This has deprived the immediately from 12.4% to standing concerns. Louisiana is one state that has had problems. An audit Asa former public trustee trustees’ reports ofcritical 15.1% (a 22% increase) to That leads to Blahous’s released last year found thousands of ineligible Medicaid for Social Security and bipartisan, independent over- stave off trust fund depletion fourth lesson: Time is running Medicare, Charles Blahous sight necessary to safeguard for that long.” out to save Social Security, beneficiaries, including about 1,600 who earned more than writes frequently about those public confidence in the infor- Next lesson: The shortfall is which the trustees have said $100,000 annually. The state recently purged about 30,000 programs and their long-term mation they contain,” Blahous certain. The trustees’ analy- will be insolvent by 2034, if it ineligible recipients from its Medicaid rolls. viability -- or lack thereof. A writes. sis, Blahous says, finds that hasn’t already. recent article at the website His other lessons are more under current law, there’s “Historically, Congress has The conservative Pelican Institute for Public Policy also economics.21 merits atten- sobering. only a 10 percent chance that been unwilling to cut benefits found another concern: Louisiana residents dropping their tion. Foremost is that Social Se- insolvency might be delayed for those already receiving private insurance coverage to enroll in Medicaid. “The Init Blahous, senior curity faces a “huge financial six years, a 2.5% chance it them, insisting instead on research strategist at the shortfall” because sched- could be delayed 10 years phasing in changes gradually number of people covered by private health insurance Mercatus Center anda uled benefits far surpass the “and no plausible chance of ..” he says. By 2034, “even declined by tens of thousands, even as Medicaid enrollment visiting fellow at the Hoover amount available in trust it being averted altogether.” completely cutting off all new skyrocketed by more than 141,000,” Chris Jacobs, a senior Institution, offers his top four funds financed by payroll tax Additional foot-dragging benefit claims, for the poorest lessons from the latest annual contributions and interest “offers no realistic hope of beneficiaries as well as the fellow with the institute, wrote recently in The Wall Street report issued this spring by earnings on those contribu- avoiding the problem; it just wealthiest, would not avert Journal. the Social Security trustees. tions. renders it more difficult to trust-fund depletion.” The pros and cons will be bandied about in Oklahoma for One is fairly innocuous “Tn present-value terms, solve.” Blahous argues that to -- that it’s important to have the trustees measure the As we have noted many avoid the pending crisis, months to come. A recent Sooner Survey, conducted by Cole public trustees involved in the financing gap at $13.9 trillion times, politicians from both lawmakers must be willing Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates, found that Oklahoma’s process. The trustees are the over the next 75 years, or parties are fine with procras- to negotiate “a combination proposed State Question 802 has 48 percent support among secretaries of the Treasury, $43.2 trillion over all time,” tinating on this issue. Presi- of revenue increases and Health and Human Services he writes. “... Perhaps amore dent Trump promised on the benefit growth restraints that Oklahoma voters, with 33 percent opposed. Not surprising- and Labor, the Social Security tangible way to think of itis campaign trail not to touch put Social Security on sound ly, Democrats strongly favor it, while Republicans oppose it commissioner, and two mem- that roughly 17% of sched- Social Security and Medicare, financial footing.” We won’t (although not by as wide a margin as Democrats support it). bers ofthe public. The latter uled benefits over the next 75 and has kept that promise, hold our breath waiting for two spots have been vacant years are unfinanced, or that while members of Congress that to happen. When they were given an “Oklahoma plan” for expansion, something Gov. Kevin Stitt has said he favors, 70 percent of those surveyed said they supported some type of Medic- State should aid expansion. Pollster Pat McFerron found that including such things as a work requirement and having new partici- pants make at least a nominal premium payment made an Oklahoma plan palatable even to a majority of those who originally opposed SQ 802. prioritize children Even if SQ 802 winds up on the ballot next year and is defeated, McFerron said, conservatives should note that this issue isn’t going anywhere. “The opportunity is to take this issue off the table and put forth a plan with elements embraced by conservatives while making other desired changes to improve health care delivery in Oklahoma,” he Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. with health, and family and recent appropriation increas- aserious need for our state said. community domain. es. The state ranked 40th in to further reduce the number Oklahoma ranks among Oklahoma was ranked 42nd the family and community of uninsured and continue Stitt and legislative leaders, take note. America’s bottom 10 states overall -- earning its best domain -- even with a signifi- rebuilding investment in our when it comes to the well- ranking for being “close to cant decline in teen pregnan- schools after years of cuts.” being of its most vulnerable the national average for the cies since 2010, Oklahoma We agree on both counts. residents - the children who percentage of children living still ranks third in the nation While lawmakers have Have a letter to live here -- an intolerable in families with at least one on that front -- and 43rd with increased education fund- statistic to be sure. full-time employed parent.” regard to health care. the editor? Email The 2019 KIDS COUNT But because the poverty rate Gene Perry, Oklahoma ing the past two years, it still lags pre-recession levels. Data Book is considered the for children in Oklahoma Policy Institute director of it to editor@ most comprehensive an- nual report of the well-being remains significantly higher then the nation as a whole, strategy and communication And and coordinator for KIDS will access to health care remain a problem unless ecdailynews.com America’s children uses 16 indicators to rank states Oklahoma ranked 35th in this category. COUNT, said there are “far affirmative steps are taken to too many” children in Okla- reduce the number of unin- or stop by 206 W. across four domains. Pub- lished by the Annie E. Casey With regard to educa- tional well-being, Oklahoma homa who lack “the resources sured children in this state. they need to thrive” even dur- The 2019 KIDS COUNT Foundation, the Data Book ranked 45th -- the data may ing times when the economy Data Book is a sobering Broadway, Elk City. ranks states for economic and be skewed somewhat consid- is booming. The KIDS reminder of where the state educational well-being along ering it was collected before COUNT data, he said, “show should focus its priorities.