Agricultural News
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Celebrates Bill Headed to the Governor That Will Help Rural Hospitals Stay Afloat
Thu, 12 May 2011 5:45:14 CDT
Legislation that will help improve access to affordable, quality health care for all Oklahomans overwhelmingly passed the House today and now goes to the governor for final consideration.
House Bill 1381 creates the "Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program Act." The bill allows hospitals to receive federal matching funds to help pay for services already rendered to Medicaid patients.
When the uninsured and underinsured can't pay, the costs for the services provided are shifted to those who can the privately insured. This leads to increased health care costs for the privately insured, which increases the insurance premiums paid by the business community.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined several other groups in a State Capitol News Conference urging lawmakers and the Governor to get this bill in place as quickly as possible. OFB President Mike Spradling told reporters that rural hospitals are a vital part of the rural Oklahoma landscape- and that this measure offers a way to secure additional operational funds for these institutions without being a burden on patients and businesses they work for. You can hear Mike's comments at the news briefing held Wednesday by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
"Currently, hospitals are forced to shift the cost of treating Medicaid patients at a loss to insured people and businesses simply because they have the ability to pay. This practice, which leads to higher health care costs for us all, must come to an end," said State Chamber President Fred Morgan. "This legislation will help continue our efforts to make health care both affordable and accessible to all Oklahomans. This was a bipartisan effort, and I would like to thank House Republican and Democratic leaders for helping to move this bill forward and urge Gov. Fallin to sign it into law."
The bill passed with a vote of 80-15 and now goes to the governor for her signature.
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