Some good Oklahoma news regarding health care services

Bryan Smith with eCapitol has a story today in their Flashback newsletter about how, unlike most states these days, Oklahoma has managed to:

"absorb budget cuts without significant cuts to vital health services.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reported Wednesday that while most states are making tough decisions to cut Medicaid eligibility, trim back children's health insurance programs and reduce services for the mentally ill, Oklahoma is among the few states that have been able to retain services and even attempt to expand coverage for children.

According to the report, Oklahoma is one of 14 states - including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia - that are trying to take advantage of $33 million in federal funding made available when Congress reauthorized the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These states have been further aided by administrative changes made by President Barack Obama's administration that have made it easier for states to expand coverage for children whose families make too much for Medicaid but who cannot quite afford private insurance."

That is some GOOD news for Oklahoma!!