McEntire Authors House Resolution Rejecting Privatized Managed Care

Please Note: The following House Resolution 1019 by Representative Marcus McEntire (R-District 50) will be introduced to the Oklahoma House of Representatives as early as Monday, April 5, 2021. Please check back for an important update.

WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 Oklahomans will be newly eligible for Medicaid on July 1, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has a proven track record of efficiency and physician and patient satisfaction; and

WHEREAS, Oklahomans are better suited than out-of-state, forprofit managed care organizations to create Oklahoma-based policy solutions and programs; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of elected and appointed officials to implement the will of the people in a fiscally responsible manner; and

WHEREAS, privatized managed care has already been attempted and failed in Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, access to and quality of care have worsened under privatized managed care in other states; and

WHEREAS, evidence is scant and inconclusive to suggest privatized managed care organizations outperform their public and nonprofit counterparts; and

WHEREAS, privatized managed care creates budget uncertainty by costing Oklahoma taxpayers millions of additional dollars as it has in other states; and

WHEREAS, privatized managed care is particularly deleterious to rural Oklahomans; and

WHEREAS, an Oklahoma-based and housed managed care system adds value by keeping Oklahoma taxpayer dollars in the Oklahoma economy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 58TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT privatized managed care should be rejected as an inefficient and failed health care model.

THAT the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is hereby directed to create an Oklahoma-based managed care system that serves the needs of all Oklahomans in an effective and fiscally responsible manner.