OHA member hospitals meet with House speaker and House minority leader
Posted on: 10/4/17
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, during the third day of the special session, OHA President
Craig Jones, other OHA staff and CEOs of hospital systems met with House Speaker
Charles McCall to outline the concerns of hospitals about continuing cuts in Medicaid and the need for passage of a cigarette tax (HB 1099X). The systems that were able to attend were Hillcrest HealthCare System, OU Medical System, Mercy, and SSM Health Care of Oklahoma. Also attending was Duncan Regional Hospital. Speaker McCall assured the attendees that House leadership is trying to pass a cigarette tax. McCall also assured the hospitals that if the cigarette tax fails, the House intends to take care of the immediate financial needs of the three health agencies impacted by the Supreme Court ruling in the cigarette fee, SB 845.
After the meeting with the speaker, the hospital CEOs then met with House Minority Leader
Scott Inman to outline the concerns of hospitals about continuing cuts in Medicaid and the need for passage of a cigarette tax (HB 1099X). Minority Leader Inman empathized with the concerns of the CEOs and stated that the House democrats are working with the Senate and governor’s office on a comprehensive revenue package that includes the cigarette tax increase at $1.50. As of the writing of this article, no agreement has been reached on any revenue package or proposal for special session. As mentioned earlier, there is no deadline for the end of the special session.
Please call you legislator, House and Senate, and urge them to pass a $1.50 cigarette tax increase to fund health care. [www.okoha.com/votervoice]