June 27, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, June 27, 2020 Opinion Page Editor’s note: Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of State Question 802, which, if approved, would expand Medicaid in the state. Here are some diverse views about the expansion of Medicaid. “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 802: Good for our economy and Pros and mental health, good for Oklahoma Cons of State By James Bost as SoonerCare. Of the esti- their Medicaid program saw are ineffective because they The COVID-19 pandemic mated 150,000 Oklahomans greater improvements in ac- do not allow individuals impacts every Oklahoman. who would gain coverage cess to mental health ser- to get the care that makes Our demand for mental through the expansion of vices and medications, and Question 802 it possible to hold down a health services has never SoonerCare, about 97,000 a 44 percent average decline job. Untreated mental health been higher, due in part to have a mental health diag- in uninsured mental health conditions, including de- economic woes. We will nosis. That’s nearly 100,000 hospital stays, according to By Rep. Todd Russ need every possible tool to people - including our fam- both government data sourc- pression and opioid use, cor- respond, including expanded ily members, friends, neigh- es and independent analysis. relate with unemployment. Oklahoma voters on Tuesday will be asked to vote on access to health care services. bors, coworkers and veter- Expanding Medicaid in Vote in favor of SQ 802 on State Question 802. As NAMI Oklahoma’s ex- ans - who would gain access Oklahoma would return June 30. It’s a simple eco- Ayes vote will not simply place a state law to the books. ecutive director, part of to essential mental health more than $8 billion from nomic choice: bring in fund- America’s largest grassroots services. the federal government. ing from the federal govern- This proposition will add an amendment to Oklahoma’s mental health organization, Passing SQ 802 is the first Offsetting costs in areas ment or spend more of our Constitution that would expand Medicaid in the state to in- Thave witnessed the lack of step to bolstering state funds, like law enforcement and state general fund on fewer clude every able-bodies adult between the ages of 18 and available resources for the creating jobs and providing criminal justice could also uninsured in our state. Many the care Oklahomans need. result from expanding Med- services. Please choose to 65 who make below 133% of the federal poverty level and help families access health of our fellow Oklahomans Health care access has icaid, as other states have who are not already covered by Medicaid. are unable to access neces- steadily decreased over the documented. Urban Institute care and overcome barriers Estimates show this would add about 200,000 adults to sary treatment for manage- past decade for people liv- data estimates a savings of to employment and more ment of their condition. ing in rural communities. up to $1.5 billion over the productive lives. the state’s Medicaid roles and could cost the state upwards On June 30, we can change Oklahoma is among the top next nine years in Oklahoma SQ 802 is our opportunity of $200 million each year for its 10% portion of the Med- this crisis by voting YES on six states that have experi- if adopted. to do what’s good for Okla- icaid match, These figures could be higher with the number SQ 802. enced the most rural hospi- Getting a job and keeping homa. of people recently unemployed due to COVID-19. Some By voting in favor of SQ tal closures since 2010. SQ it will also become a real- James Bost is the Execu- 802, an increased number 802 would make additional ity for patients who benefit estimate that many people currently insured by private in- of low-income adults would funding possible for these from SoonerCare. Proposals tive Director for the state surance through their employer would switch to the state’s become eligible for Med- communities. that push work requirements chapter of the National Alli- Medicaid plan should this be adopted. In addition, should icaid, known in Oklahoma Other states that expanded to qualify for SoonerCare ance on Mental Iliness. the federal government ever change its portion of Medicaid funding, the state would be required to fund more of the program. Medicaid expansion should be rejected Because this would be a constitutional change it could By Kaitlyn Finley states that share similar de- cure-all for rural hospitals’ healthcare and improve ac- only be further amended by a future vote of the people. On June 30, Oklahoma mographics with Oklahoma, financial woes. According cess. The state would not be allowed to place work requirements will vote on State Question like Arkansas and Kentucky, to Becker’s Hospital Re- Reforming our Tobacco into the plan or be able to charge low-cost premiums of 802, which would amend the are spending hundreds of view, 24 rural hospitals have Settlement Endowment participants. Instead, we would be required to follow the state constitution and add a millions on Medicaid ex-closed in expansion states Trust would be a good start. provision to expand Oklaho- pansion to get comparable after they expanded. This parameters of the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare). ma’s Medicaid program to or worse health outcomes is largely because hospitals The $110 million payments I completely support rural hospitals and want them to include able-bodied adults. than the Sooner State. In do not make a profit off of made to the state from to- thrive financially, but the numbers in this expansion shows Supporters of State Ques- fact, expansion state Louisi- any Medicaid or Medicare bacco companies annually tion 802 promise giving a ana with more than 516,000 patient. Any business owner could be directed towards very little in the way of saving struggling hospitals. It is new right to free govern- able-bodied adults enrolled knows that focusing on se- covering losses at rural hos- worth noting that low-income children and their caregivers ment healthcare by expand- in Medicaid still ranks dead curing a larger client base of pitals. Another portion of as well as the elderly, the blind and the disabled already ing Medicaid to able-bodied last in overall health out- money-losing customers is this money could be used to qualify for SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s version of Medicaid. adults will improve health comes. not sustainable long term. pay for medical school stu- outcomes, create jobs and Expansion proponents Proponents also argue the A no vote on State Question 802 leaves the state’s Med- dents who agree to practice save rural hospitals. claim Oklahoma will gain influx of federal cash will icaid program as it is, covering the individuals mentioned. in rural areas upon gradu- But experiences in other jobs, but other expansion offset the state’s portion of states that expanded show states have not been so expansion costs and states ation, ensuring Oklahoma The governor earlier this year announced his SoonerCare this is just very expensive lucky. will make hay financially. increases the number of pro- 2.0 plan, which would expand Medicaid to this same popu- wishful thinking. According to a recent re- Then why have 12 expan- viders in areas that need it lation of low-income adults addressed in the state question, The reality is expansion port from the Foundation for sion states raised state fees the most. but would request a waiver from the federal government to states have not seen signifi- Government Accountability, or taxes to fund expansion There are better solutions allow for some work requirements of those who are able- cant improvements in state a national nonpartisan think (as pointed out by the Wash- for Oklahomans than ex- health outcomes. But their tank, “two out of five ex- ington Post last year)? panding Medicaid. I urge bodied or some low-premium payments by participants. states have been plagued pansion states actually lost It’s clear our state, like you to reject State Question It is always good to ask people to have some skin in the with hospital job loss, state hospital jobs after expand- many others, cannot afford 802. game. I supported the governor’s plan, but it has since been budget shortfalls and rural ing Medicaid, while non-ex- to expand Medicaid. placed on hold until this state question is resolved. hospital closures. pansion states were growing Instead of expanding yet Kaitlyn Finley of Edmond Evidence from the annual hospital jobs at a far higher another government pro- is the policy research fellow Todd Russ represents District 55 in the Oklahoma House America’s Health Rank- rate.” gram, we should pursue tar- for the Oklahoma Council of of Representatives. ing report shows expansion Expansion has been no geted solutions to help rural Public Affairs. Expanding Medicaid will be good for pocketbooks and patients By Jared Deck fight to regain access to local reason we must vote Yes on our neighbors. It’s time to ily? What is the emotional and communities on the Inthe first week of October healthcare. 802. bring our money home from and educational cost to the brink of a health crisis and 1979, four babies — Keith, However, despite the As a patient and a board Washington, D.C., use it to sick kid of a retail worker a state on the brink of finan- Katrina, Jared and Christy valiant efforts of an entire member of a community pay health care workers for who can’t afford to take off cial loss. We can give small- — were born at Thomas Me- community, the hospital health center, I’m privileged the job they’re already do- work for an appointment? town hospitals — like the morial Hospital in northeast shut its doors for good be- to witness the front lines of ing, and do what’s right for What are the mental health Custer County. fore our sophomore year. healthcare in our state. Cur- Oklahomans. costs to a family facing a one in which Keith, Katrina, We were lucky enough In rural economies, many rently, 21 community health As an advocate for this mountain of debt because Christy, and I were born — a to live in a small commu- hard-working Oklahomans centers service over 250,000 cause, I often answer ques- of an unavoidable trip to the chance to stay alive without nity where we were born fall into the coverage gap Oklahomans. When you tions about the financial cost emergency room? When our an annual GoFundMe. together, started kindergar- between making too much consider many of these pa- of health care expansion. loved ones are in their care, Yes on 802 makes sense ten together and graduated to qualify for Medicaid, but tients are uninsured because While a Yes vote for 802 health care workers don’t for patients and for pocket- together. It’s a special thing not enough to afford to buy of layoffs or the frustrating puts our tax dollars back to ask about the financial cost most folks can’t say in met- insurance for their family. coverage gap, the situation work and adds thousands because they understand the books. ropolitan areas. Many are employed by becomes dire. of jobs to our economy, so human cost. Jared Deck of Norman is A decade after our births, small business owners who Over the past several much more is at stake than The human cost isn’t an award-winning singer! that hospital shut down for try to do right by their em- years, Oklahomans have money. partisan, Those of us who songwriter and business four months. Thanks to the ployees, but can’t always paid billions in federal taxes Another question we must were born and raised in ru- owner who serves as Trea- hard work of the local eco- afford to provide health ben- without getting anything in consider is, what is the hu- ral Oklahoma know that we surer for the Variety Care nomic development author- efits. Those lucky enough to return for access to qual- man cost of not expanding look out for each other be- Board of Directors. This ity, a citizen-authorized have — employer-sponsored ity health care. Voting Yes access to care? What is the cause we're all we have. We sales tax and kids like us insurance lose that benefit on 802 returns over $1 bil- human cost of unaddressed can’t lose another hospital. column represents his opin- selling Thomas Terrier li- if they lose their job. These lion home to our state every health issues to the hourly We can’t lose another clinic. ion and is not a statement on cense plates, our commu- Oklahomans work hard for year and expands health care wage worker who is the With your Yes vote, we behalf of any organization nity of 1,246 people won the their families and are the access to over 200,000 of sole provider for her fam- can begin to heal families for which he serves.