Oklahoma lawmakers facing Medicaid funding shortfall

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A national report says a $65-million hole in Medicaid funding is one of the challenges Oklahoma lawmakers will face next year. <br/><br/>In a report released Thursday, the Denver-based

Friday, December 10th 2004, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A national report says a $65-million hole in Medicaid funding is one of the challenges Oklahoma lawmakers will face next year.

In a report released Thursday, the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures said Oklahoma will be taking the fourth-largest Medicaid cut in the country in October 2005.

The report also noted other top budget issues such as funding mandatory teacher pay raises and teacher health benefit increases approved last year.

Governor Brad Henry says his office is preparing budget recommendations for the 2005 legislative session and is aware of some of the problems cited in the report.

Henry says federal funding changes are part of the reason why the program will cost more.