Kingfisher County residents will join other state residents on Tuesday, June 30, in voting on S.Q. 802, a measure that would add Medicaid expansion to Oklahoma’s Constitution.

Ballotpedia, a research organization, analyzes the question this way:

What would S.Q. 802 do?

This measure would expand Medicaid in Oklahoma under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. It would provide Medicaid coverage for certain low-income adults between 18 and 65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

For 2020, the FPL is $12,490 for individuals and $25,750 for a family of four. Because the ACA includes a 5% income disregard, this measure would effectively expand Medicaid to those with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.

What is Medicaid expansion?

Medicaid is a government program that provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities.

Obamacare also provided for the expansion of Medicaid to cover all individuals earning incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in NFIB v. Sebelius that the federal government could not withhold funds from states that refused to expand Medicaid.

The ruling had the practical effect of making Medicaid expansion optional for states. In 2018, the federal government financed 94% of the costs of state Medicaid expansion. For 2020 and subsequent years, the federal government was set to cover 90% of the costs. As of 2020, 14 states, had chosen not to expand Medicaid.

Oklahomans Decide Healthcare is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. Oklahomans Decide Healthcare said, “Expanding Medicaid will [make] our families healthier and our economy stronger. It will deliver healthcare to those who need it, including many parents, seniors, and hardworking folks who earn less than $17,000 a year. It will also bring more than a billion of our tax dollars home from Washington, D.C. every year to create jobs, boost our economy, and keep our rural hospitals open. That’s money that 36 other states that have expanded Medicaid get, but Oklahoma has lost out on for years.”

State Question 802 is supported by the Oklahoma Hospital Association, State Medical Association, Osteopathic Association, and Nurses Association.

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs opposes the initiative. The group said, “Oklahoma would be obligated to provide medical assistance to adults at or below 138% of the federal poverty level regardless of whether Congress continues to pay a large portion of the costs. Congress would dictate how much money actually leaves Oklahoma’s treasury. “Moreover, federal bu

“Moreover, federal bureaucrats set the federal poverty level, which would determine Medicaid eligibility.

“The Oklahoma Legislature would merely be a conduit to finance the federal government’s policy decisions. This is unconstitutional.”

A spokeswoman for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) said, “If SQ 802 passes, our state agencies will experience deep cuts, because the ballot measure offers no mechanism to pay for it. The governor does not support this unfunded mandate.”

See the Sunday, June 21, editorial page for an analysis of State Question 802 from competing viewpoints.