Group submits petitions for Medicaid expansion

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A group that wants a statewide vote on whether to expand Medicaid to thousands of low-income Oklahomans has submitted signed petitions to have the state question placed on the election ballot next year.

Supporters of State Question 802 submitted the petitions Thursday to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office. The signatures of about 178,000 registered voters are needed to get the question on the ballot, and supporters say they obtained about 313,000 signatures.

The measure would amend Oklahoma’s constitution and expand Medicaid coverage to adults between ages 18 and 65 whose income does not exceed 133% of the federal poverty level. A challenge by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank, was blocked by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

An estimated 545,000 Oklahomans do not have health insurance .