Nice going Gov

[Ibanez]

http://www.newson6.com/story/22378105/st-john-health-system

[Hoss]

http://www.newson6.com/story/22378105/st-john-health-system

Yeah, kinda thought the same thing myself when I saw the story on the news.  Initially she was for accepting the expansion until she was bullied into not accepting it by the teaheads.  She's becoming the state-level version of Dewey...

[Red Arrow]

http://www.newson6.com/story/22378105/st-john-health-system

I wasn't real happy about:

In January, the federal government reduced Medicare payments to help pay for the expansion of the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, but Oklahoma opted out.

I had a really difficult time finding a new primary care physician for my mother in December.  Lots of Doctors.  Not too many taking Medicare/Medicare supplement insurance.  I got really tired of hearing doctors say that they would take new patients but not those on Medicare.

[Conan71]

T.W. Shannon deserves some grief himself if Insure Oklahoma is not renewed. The whole purpose of the significant rise in tobacco taxes was to  fund health insurance for the working poor in Oklahoma.  I'm not a huge fan of government programs, but my understanding is this has been a pretty good success and it's got a solid funding mechanism.

As far as St. John letting go 2% of the workforce, I would assume in a company that large, that is probably a normal attrition rate.  I would think they could structure it to where most job loss would be early retirement depending on which departments the cuts will happen in.

"Insure Oklahoma is a state-based program that helps the working poor purchase health insurance. It was developed by the Oklahoma Legislature with the support of Oklahoma voters. In 2004, Oklahomans voted to pass SQ 714, a ballot initiative that raised tobacco taxes and directed the revenue to fund Insure Oklahoma.

"If Speaker Shannon decides not to act, this popular, successful program will disappear. Most importantly, at least 9,000 Oklahomans will be stripped of their health insurance plans. I do not believe that is an outcome that any state leader can be happy about.

"If he is not interested in continuing this important program I encourage the Speaker to come forward with an alternative solution that prevents poor, working Oklahomans from being stripped of their health care plans."

[heironymouspasparagus]

Another Failin'-ism.

[sauerkraut]

Thank 'BamaCare for the layoffs. Come 2014 the IRS will be in control of our medical care.

[Townsend]

Thank 'BamaCare for the layoffs. Come 2014 the IRS will be in control of our medical care.

Out already?