Oklahoma Health Program is bipartisan boost

 

Monday, May 11,2009, 10:37:59 PM   Click:

OKLAHOMA CITY_It took several years for Oklahoma's Republican legislative leadership to adopt an innovative program designed by the Governor of the State Democratic and fewer Oklahoman who have no health insurance.

But GOP lawmakers have finally come to the support of Governor Brad Henry Insure Oklahoma premium assistance program bipartisan coalition that seeks to resolve a problem that concerns both the Republicans and Democrats: health care.

Last week Henry signed a Republican-supported legislation to strengthen Insure Oklahoma, first introduced in 2004 to help small businesses provide health care coverage for low-and middle-income employees and reduce the status of the estimated 619,000 uninsured residents.

Funded by revenues from the state and federal tobacco tax matching dollars, the public-private partnership has recruited more than 18,000 employees in Oklahoman plans sponsored or individual health insurance and the signing of new participants in the speed of approximately 1000 per month.

GOP lawmakers, some of which were only lukewarm about Insure Oklahoma when the first was proposed, now that it has acquired a national reputation and is used as a model by other states who are developing their own plans for premium support.


They say that the proposed improvements will help to increase enrollment and make more accessible health insurance while reducing the cost of health insurance plans.

"This is the kind of bipartisanship that gets things done. I think people of Oklahoma would like their elected representatives," said Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele, who lives in the governor's hometown of Shawnee and worked closely with Henry developing additions to Insure Oklahoma.

"This is a step in the right direction by reducing the number of uninsured," said Steele. "I feel very fortunate to work with Governor Henry in this matter."

Henry also expressed his appreciation commending Steele for his leadership as he signed the Insure Oklahoma changes in the law.

"Governor Henry is very proud of Insure Oklahoma and a major proponent of this because it has created," said Henry communications director, Paul Sund. "It's an effective way to provide assurance to those who Oklahoman have had difficulty finding affordable in the past. "

Under the program, the participation of employers and employees pay a portion of their health insurance premiums of state took over the rest of the tab.

The state pays 60 percent of the cost, employers pay 25 percent and employees paying 15 percent. For every dollar the state invests in the program, it receives approximately two dollars in matching federal funds.

"It was one of the most popular program, especially with the business community, which he won many converts over time," said Sund. "Many of his early critics were captivated by its history."

Steele, author of the bill, co-chaired the Health Care Reform Working Group which met last fall to discuss ways to reduce Oklahoma's uninsured population and improve the 'general health.

The state was ranked 43rd nationally in the 2008 "America's Health Rankings" report based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics and other agencies.

The legislator said that the law signed by Henry Insure Oklahoma will more customers, especially when determining eligibility and registration.

Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, who also co-chaired last year's health care task force, said the program will be more accessible by lowering the cost of insurance policies and health openness to other uninsured.

The new guidelines allow insurers to offer plans with basic catastrophic coverage by relaxing some of Oklahoma mandates health insurance to more low-cost options may be offered to uninsured Oklahoman, "said Cox, a doctor of emergency medicine at the General Hospital Integris Grove.

Steele said 60 percent of residents Oklahoma's uninsured are young, healthy adults aged 18 and 40.

"This young, healthy population sees no need to pay for something they think they never use," said Steele. "You tend to feel invincible."

Oklahoma health insurance mandates has 36 of these procedures as immunizations for children, mammography, breast reconstruction and detection of prostate cancer. Some legislators believe mandates increase the cost of health insurance.


Another option is low-cost high-deductible plans compatible with health savings accounts.

The bill is based on the existing infrastructure Insure Oklahoma by creating a website that will be managed by the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland's office to determine the schemes of health insurance available, what plans services and that they cover costs, said Steele.

Known as Oklahoma Exchange, but also a list of qualified, accredited insurance agents who can help people to adhere to a plan.

This measure also provides more options for registration at the time of access to health care, such as hospitals and other health care providers. Under the plan, the Oklahoma Exchange would be used to connect people without health insurance coverage options.

Cox, chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee on Public Health and Social Services, said that the program can provide up to 40,000 Oklahoman before it exhausts its source of income.

"It'sa concern," said Cox. He said that legislators will have to find other sources of income to continue to build on the success of Insure Oklahoma.

"It's in May when people begin to be seriously considering the cost of supplier," said Cox. Under this plan, health care facilities would be back a small portion of their profits to the state in order additional leverage matching federal money to pay for Insure Oklahoma.

"They will reap more return for putting in so doing," he said.