Senate, House Sub-Committees Complete Work On Budgets for Health, Social Service Agencies

Senator Tom Adelson and Representative Thad Balkman announced Tuesday that work has been completed on the budgets for the state’s health and social service agencies by the respective sub-committees in the House and Senate.

Appropriations and budget limit bills for the six agencies could be ready for consideration by the General Conference Committee on Appropriations and votes by the full Senate and House next week.
“We’ve addressed many of the most pressing needs in these agencies, including funding to make prescription medications more affordable for all Oklahomans and ensuring at least 32 State Department of Health nursing home surveyors to further protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Adelson, D-Tulsa.

“This agreement provides $8 million for statewide expansion of our drug courts, increases core services at the Department of Mental Health to help serve more clients and adds three new Program for Assertive Community Treatment teams. It also provides increased funding for veterans services and the J.D. McCarty Center,” said Balkman, R-Norman.

Other highlights of the agreement between the sub-committees include:
Implementing 12-month Medicaid eligibility;
And an additional $281,000 to support the state’s 17 clinics serving the uninsured.

“I’m pleased we’ve worked in a bi-partisan effort to meet the critical needs of Oklahomans receiving health and social services,” Balkman said

“I appreciate working with Representative Balkman on a budget that provides increased funding for needed health services. This was an especially challenging task with federal cuts in excess of $40 million that placed significant pressure on these vital programs,” Adelson said.

The proposed agency budgets include:
Oklahoma Health Care Authority $571,786,355;

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services $175,918,209;

Oklahoma Department of Health $ 61,790,819;

University Hospitals Authority $40,549,342;

Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs $35,540,332;

J.D. McCarty Center $ 3,792.283.