OHA members host reception and Advocacy Day at state Capitol

Posted on: 4/19/17

Rex VanMeter (right), president, INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital, Yukon, discusses the cigarette tax with Rep. Rhonda Baker (Yukon).

Nearly 150 participants from hospitals across the state attended the annual OHA Advocacy Day activities on April 17 and 18. Events kicked off with a presentation by OHA President Craig Jones about the status of key legislative issues and the state budget crisis. Information prepared by political consultant Pat McFerron about voter attitudes was included in the presentation. Two key findings from the CHS & Associates poll of registered voters conducted April 3-6, include: (1) Support remains high (62 percent) for raising the cigarette tax by $1.50 to fund health care; and, (2) 84 percent of Oklahomans believe state government should do more to help rural hospitals. The presentation was followed by a well-attended reception at the Oklahoma History Center for lawmakers.  

On Tuesday, OHA members spent the day at the state Capitol visiting with legislators to discuss issues important to Oklahoma’s hospitals, most importantly passing a $1.50 increase on the cigarette tax to fund health care, protect SHOPP from any attempt to change the law, and fund existing Medicaid programs first, or PAUSE funding for new programs such as managed care for the aged, blind and disabled (ABD) until the state’s budget crisis stabilizes. OHA members delivered a strong and urgent message to legislators that health care is in crisis and immediate steps must be taken. For more information about OHA’s message to legislators, click here. (Lynne White)