Lankford Bill Would Give States More Control Under ObamaCare
Rep. Lankford says health plan won’t ignore poor people
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Oklahoma and other states would continue providing medical assistance to their poorest residents even if federal oversight of such programs is withdrawn, Fifth District U.S. Rep. James Lankford said Friday.
“The assumption is ‘What would happen if a state wouldn’t take care of its people?'” said Lankford, a U.S. Senate candidate who introduced legislation this week that essentially would allow states to decide for themselves how to deal with uninsured poor people.
“I always think, ‘Do you have a state in mind that you think would not take care of its people?’ ”
In fact, it was the states’ pre-Medicaid track record on indigent care that eventually prompted federal involvement.