A statewide coalition launched the Oklahomans Decide Healthcare campaign Wednesday to give voters the choice to approve Medicaid expansion to thousands of uninsured state residents.
“We’re normal, everyday Oklahomans that care about this issue and we’re growing every day,” spokeswoman Amber England said.
The coalition — which includes doctors, nurses, patients, business executives, nonprofit organizations, health care advocates and hospitals — wants to bring more than $1 billion back to Oklahoma every year from Washington, D.C., to expand Medicaid coverage to as many as 200,000 Oklahomans and boost the state’s economy, England said.
England is the only person currently staffing the campaign, which is being funded by individuals and organizations “that care about this issue,” said England, who did not disclose the specific donors. England said donors will be disclosed when a ballot initiative clears all hurdles and the governor declares an election date.
An initiative petition to put Medicaid expansion on a statewide ballot is under fire by the conservative think tank Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which filed a protest. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the protest Tuesday.
The coalition would need to collect nearly 178,000 voter signatures to put the issue on the November 2020 general election ballot. England said she is confident supporters will be able to start collecting signatures by late summer or early fall.
The expansion would provide an estimated $900 million a year in federal money to be matched by about $100 million a year in state funds.
Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid is available to those making less than 133% of the federal poverty level, which is about $17,000 a year for an individual or $28,000 for a family of three. Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid. Last year, voters in Utah, Nebraska and Idaho all approved Medicaid expansion.