Prenatal care debate revolves around money

The head of Oklahoma's Medicaid program said Tuesday the state faces no risk of losing federal money by allowing illegal immigrants to receive prenatal care, despite a state lawmaker's statements to the contrary.

Mike Fogarty, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, said his agency "has specific federal approval and encouragement to reimburse health care providers for prenatal care services to unborn children regardless of their mother's documentation status.”

Rep. Randy Terrill said providing that care could endanger millions of dollars for health care programs in the state.

Terrill, R-Moore, said legislators never approved a rule allowing the Health Care Authority to include pregnant illegal immigrants in the state Medicaid program. It was created through the agency's internal rule-making process, he said.

"As a result, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority may soon be committing Medicaid fraud by billing the federal government for services provided to illegal aliens that the Legislature never authorized,” Terrill said.

Page 1 of 2

1 2 Next