OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House has defeated a bill to impose a $2 increase in the co-payments Medicaid recipients are charged when they visit a doctor.
The House Wednesday voted 56-32 against raising the current $3 co-payment to $5.
The legislation by Rep. John Wright of Broken Arrow would have allowed the co-payment to be partially or completely waived by the physician.
But opponents say it is wrong to increase fees for health care services on poor Oklahomans who struggle to meet their basic needs.
Rep. Scott Inman of Del City called the proposal a health care tax that would affect most of the residents of his district east of Oklahoma City.
Rep. Mike Shelton of Oklahoma City says the proposal would penalize people who choose to go to the doctor.






