Health Care Reform

The American Medical Association today recognized obesity as a disease that requires "a range of medical interventions to advance obesity treatment and prevention." "Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex issue that affects...

In an interview with FOX News host Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday , Gov. Mary Fallin explained why she didn’t want the state to set up a health care exchange and her decision to reject Medicaid expansion. Here is a transcript provided by the show, “On the Record.” GRETA VAN SUSTEREN:...

President Barack Obama said at the first presidential debate that he likes the term Obamacare, which has been used derisively for the past two years by opponents of the health care reform law. And he defended it, saying it doesn’t mean a government takeover of health insurance but, rather,...

Some candidates seeking seats in the next Congress released statements on Thursday following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most of the health care law. In the 5th District, currently represented by Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, Democrat Tom Guild, of Edmond, said: “I am...

All five members of Oklahoma’s all-Republican delegation in the U.S. House voted Thursday to repeal the 2009 health care law. The 229-195 vote to repeal in the GOP-controlled House was symbolic. The Senate, controlled by Democrats, will not consider repeal. Here are comments from members of...

Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, said Thursday he was disappointed in the Obama administration’s decision not to allow Oklahoma to continue a program that helped provide health insurance to employees of small businesses. The state was informed this week that it will not get a waiver to...

Insure Oklahoma to expire Dec. 31; key health reform statutes take effect Jan. 1

Tahlequah City Hospital in northeast Oklahoma charges an average of $26,831 for a joint replacement for a lower extremity. Meanwhile, the average amount hospitals in Oklahoma City charge ranges from $28,194 to $78,071. But whether these amounts are close to what patients actually pay is up for...

The insurance program Insure Oklahoma, which provides insurance coverage for about 30,000 low-income Oklahomans, will expire Dec. 31. Federal officials said they are willing to help come up with a workable program.

Governors don't always get what they want from their legislatures, particularly when lawmakers are predominantly from the other political party. Republican governors who want to expand Medicaid aren't getting what they want from lawmakers in their own party. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has been...

Located in Tulsa's Brady Arts District, new home of the Woody Guthrie Archives opens its doors to the public for the first time Saturday afternoon.

Leaders with the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, an ecumenical coalition of faith organizations in the state, submitted a letter to Gov. Mary Fallin's office on Thursday, asking Fallin and the state Legislature to reconsider the decision to refuse federal funds to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma...

Todd Pendleton, art director at The Oklahoman, has created an interactive graphic novel at NewsOK.com explaining the Affordable Care Act as it relates to Oklahoma.   Pendleton worked with stories from reporters including Megan Rolland, Michael McNutt, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Randy Ellis,...

Under federal health care reform, about 337,000 Oklahomans will become eligible for premium tax credits in 2014, according to a report released Wednesday.

Timeline A look at Attorney General Scott's Pruitt's fight against implementing the Affordable Care Act in Oklahoma: • January 2011: Pruitt files a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma, challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the...

In November, Gov. Mary Fallin announced Oklahoma would not expand its Medicaid program or build a state-based health insurance exchange, two key provisions of the federal government's health care law. In January, a consulting firm was hired by the state's Medicaid agency to study what...

The state Oklahoma Board of Health held its monthly meeting in Woodward on Tuesday and one of the concerns members discussed was electronic cigarettes.

Oklahoma has hired a Utah firm to make recommendations for insuring the poor in Oklahoma.

10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier granted Oklahoma City retailer's bid to speed up legal proceedings.

A federal appeals court has granted Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.’s request for the entire court to hear its legal challenge over part of the Affordable Care Act that requires the company to cover emergency contraceptives for its employees.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin claims executive privilege on some documents sought in records request

After Ashley Zeno, of Mustang, spoke out about proposed rule change regarding private duty nursing, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority board determined it would spend the next year studying the issue. The authority's board will not vote on the issue at its Thursday board meeting.

Some Americans could see their insurance bills double next year as the health care overhaul law expands coverage to millions of people.

A crowd of about 300 was encouraged to urge Oklahoma lawmakers to support legislation opposing the federal Affordable Care Act and to back Second Amendment gun rights.

Applying for benefits under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul could be as daunting as doing your taxes. The government's draft application runs 15 pages for a three-person family. An outline of the online version has 21 steps, some with additional questions.