Tulsa agency files lawsuit over Medicaid cuts

A lawsuit to overturn cuts in Medicaid in Oklahoma. Tulsa's Community Action Project filed the lawsuit Tuesday morning with the Oklahoma Supreme Court. <br><br>News on Six reporter Emory Bryan says

Tuesday, October 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A lawsuit to overturn cuts in Medicaid in Oklahoma. Tulsa's Community Action Project filed the lawsuit Tuesday morning with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

News on Six reporter Emory Bryan says the cuts will take away health insurance for an estimated 61,000 children - and limit the number of prescriptions for around 10,000 adults. The cuts prompted the lawsuit - filed Tuesday morning in Oklahoma City.

Attorney Louis Bullock filed on behalf of the Community Action Project and a family affected by the cuts. "While the financial problems of this state and of the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority are very real, there is no reason for these cuts to affect the most vulnerable citizens of Oklahoma." A copy of the application is available by clicking here The brief is also available, through this link.

One round of cuts take effect - and it's too late to stop those - but the lawsuit asks for immediate relief from the court - and a decision on whether or not the healthcare authority has the legal authority to change the standards of who gets Medicaid.

A decision could take days - it could take months.