FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2014

MARY FALLIN DIVERTS ATTENTION FROM FAILED HEALTH CARE POLICIES

Her refusal of Medicaid Expansion leaves Oklahoma Health Care Authority $164 Million in Debt

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair, Wallace Collins, released the following statement in response to Governor Mary Fallin’s press release concerning Oklahoma’s Medicaid costs:

“Mary Fallin is simply trying to divert people’s attention from the fact that she refused Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act and now the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which manages Medicaid, is facing a $164 million budget deficit next year,” said ODP Chair Wallace Collins. “The reality is the federal government is picking up 100 percent of the tab for Medicaid Expansion during the first three years and the most Oklahoma could ever be asked to pay is 10 percent of the total cost by 2020. Mary Fallin’s refusal means our federal tax dollars are being sent to other states to fund their Medicaid programs instead of Oklahoma’s. Joe Dorman has said his first act as governor will be to sign an executive order expanding Medicaid, which will bring $12 billion of our federal taxes back into Oklahoma, create 13,000 new jobs, and give over 144,000 Oklahomans access to affordable health care.”

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