Medicaid Expansion Plan Approved

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to expand the number of Oklahoma children that qualify for Medicaid benefits passes the state Senate Rules Committee.<br/><br/>Governor Brad Henry urged passage of the "All

Thursday, February 22nd 2007, 5:49 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to expand the number of Oklahoma children that qualify for Medicaid benefits passes the state Senate Rules Committee.

Governor Brad Henry urged passage of the "All Kids Act" in his State of the State speech on February 5th and the proposal was included in the agenda of Senate Democrats.

Democrat state Senator Tom Adelson of Tulsa is author of the measure.

The bill would increase the Medicaid eligibility for children from 185 percent of the poverty level to 300 percent, the maximum allowed by the federal government.

Children whose parents make $37,000 or less a year are now eligible for Medicaid coverage. Adeleson's bill would increase that to $60,000 a year.

Under the program, the state would put up $8.5 million, allowing it to draw down almost $30 million in federal matching funds.