State to receive $175 million for Medicaid
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma is in line to soon receive more than $170 million in federal funds for its Medicaid program as part of the federal stimulus program.
President Barack Obama told the nation’s governors on Monday that states will be able to access the first two quarters of their allotted federal match for Medicaid for the 2009 fiscal year beginning Wednesday.
The funding would help pay for health care for families hit hard by the economic crisis and some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
According to a release by the White House, Oklahoma’s Medicaid installment under the stimulus bill is $174.8 million.
States will need to meet federal Medicaid guidelines to spend the money.
House passes sweeping civil justice bill
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A divided House committee passed legislation Monday that would make sweeping changes to Oklahoma’s civil justice system that opponents said would unconstitutionally place barriers in front of citizens who want to file a lawsuit when they are injured by others.
The measure marks the third consecutive year that lawmakers have been asked to pass legislation that, among other things, would cap pain and suffering damages at $300,000 and require a certificate from an expert that a lawsuit has merit before it can proceed in state court.
