Okla. Supreme Court overturns Medicaid fee
Published: 08/24/10 - 1:37pm Written by Dick Pryor
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Supreme Court has overturned a state law intended to raise revenue for the state's Medicaid program. The ruling posted on the court's website Tuesday said the measure violates the state Constitution. It comes a day after justices heard oral arguments in the case. State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland asked the court to overturn the law. It set a 1 percent fee on claims paid by private health insurers and companies with self-insured health care plans.
Insurance Department attorney Michael Ridgeway argued that the bill failed to get a required three-fourths vote when it passed the House and Senate late in the legislative session. Phone calls to the Insurance Department and the Attorney General's office - which argued in support of the law - were not immediately returned.


