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Capitol News Update     

 

September 3, 2012 

 

           Last week all eyes from the Oklahoma capitol were on Tampa. The complete blackout of Governor Mary Fallin's speech to the convention was disappointing. The local news outlets publicized the speech time so I was surprised when I switched around to all the channels only to find none were carrying her speech. Every one of them had talking heads pompously saying nothing. I guess it says something about the rest of the nation's opinion of Oklahoma.

 

            I'm sure everyone has his own opinion about the convention. I didn't watch it curtain to curtain, but I'm sure I got the flavor. The star of Tuesday was Paul Ryan. He came off as a nice guy. I think both Democrats and Republicans consider him to be in the extreme right of the party, but he didn't seem that way. He's obviously smart and attractive. Romney brought his ideological baggage when he named Ryan the Veep nominee, but that's obviously what he wanted to do. Ryan presented as an amiable, reasonable guy, an asset to the ticket. One problem, he left a lot of room for fact checkers to take the luster off his star. Did he sell himself as someone he is not?

 

            The televised speakers of note on Wednesday were Ann Romney and Gov. Chris Christie. I thought Mrs. Romney did a great job introducing both herself and Gov. Romney to the national audience. She was nervous, like most non-candidates would be, which made her seem down to earth and normal. She told some things about their lives that only she could tell, and I felt she went a long way in shedding the image of the couple as living privileged lives.   I don't know if the warm feelings will stick, but I thought she did her job well.

 

            I don't care what Chris Christie was supposed to accomplish, but his performance was lousy. I don't think he helped himself or the ticket. The one thing he did do was validate Gov. Romney's decision not to put him on the ticket. First, after Mrs. Romney spoke eloquently about the power and importance of love, he declared that between love and respect, respect was a lot more important. His excuse might be that he and Mrs. Romney were originally supposed to speak on separate nights, but there was plenty of time to fix the problem. They announced on Sunday there would be no Monday night speeches, and someone blew it by not coordinating their messages.

 

            Beyond that he came off as the bully he apparently is. He tipped his hat to compromise, but then spent most of his time bragging about how he ran over everyone in New Jersey that disagreed with him. Someone needs to tell him that leadership does not consist solely of getting your way all the time. I have a feeling he's like a coach no one really likes. As long as everything's going okay, people will put up with him. But when things start going not so well they'll toss him in a minute.

 

            Thursday night was to be Romney's, and I thought he did a very good job. He's not an eloquent speaker, but I think he came across as a good man who worked hard and deserved the success he has achieved. He seemed a lot more comfortable in his skin than he has before. By the time he finished, you could see him winning the election and being president, which I assume is what he wanted to accomplish. So far as content, he was vague, which was likely intentional, and his failure to mention the troops was a mistake. People who have watched him over time said it was his best speech.

 

            Clint Eastwood. What was that all about? I can't really comment on it. I switched off when he started talking to the chair and came back later for Romney.              

Stretching Medicaid dollars: OHCA mulls bottom-line strategies

By Kirby Lee Davis 

The Journal Record

TULSA - After almost two hours highlighting cost-cutting policies and strategies, Sylvia Lopez took the microphone to repeat something Cindy Roberts said to open the talk.

"I want people to understand that our focus is always on the patient," said Lopez, chief medical officer for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. "If a service is medically necessary, we will never end that service just based on cost. We want our members to get the care they need, and some services are very expensive."

That drew applause in the final session of Friday's OHCA Board Retreat at Tulsa's Hyatt Regency Hotel. But the bookend comment didn't downplay the bottom-line strategies authority leaders focused on for most of that time.

Although Washington policy debates, information system advances and improving procedures may dominate most of that two-day gathering, OHCA Deputy Chief Executive Roberts said containing costs and employing proactive prevention policies still play a major role in helping SoonerCare stretch Oklahoma's Medicaid dollars as far as possible.

The OHCA saw its spending increase 10 percent in fiscal 2012, to $394 million at June 30 from $359 million the prior year, although Director of Pharmacy Services Nancy Nesser attributed that more to prior-year declines than a double-digit cost uptick.

"2011 was some kind of weird year," she said, noting its decline from 2010. Comparing that year to 2012 drew only a 5-percent rise in costs. "That makes me feel better," she said. Nesser pinned the hike primarily on a 17-percent rise in brand drug costs, averaging $318 per prescription. Even with the $160 million-plus the OHCA collected in its drug rebate program, Nesser said this proved a major burden. "The only thing we can do is keep hammering on prior authorization," she said, referring to restrictions OHCA's SoonerCare program places on some drugs before a patient can acquire them.

Nesser noted that five key prescription drugs charted major price declines as their patent protections expired over the last year:

* Zyprexa, once $39 a tab, now sells for 85 cents.

* Lipitor went from $6 a tab to 44 cents.

* Once $19.50 a tab, Seroquel now sells for 81 cents.

* Plavix fell from $6.80 to 78 cents.

* Singulair dropped from $5.50 a tab to 85 cents.

"We think it's reasonable to project a cost savings of $32 million just on these five drugs," Nesser said. "This is truly a best buy no matter how you look at it."

Nesser then joked that other breakthrough drugs might gobble up those savings. The high cost of new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia and other chronic disabling diseases, some up to $3,712 per prescription, could present serious budget concerns. "We think that specialty and biological projects are going to eat our lunch, basically," Nesser said. To manage this, SoonerCare employs not just prior authorization policies, which may pull back as the patient demonstrates a proper understanding of the drug, but quantity and high-dose limits, a lock-in program where certain drugs may only be acquired through certain pharmacies, and other utilization controls.

The OHCA also employs prior authorizations to manage many health care services and procedures, from orthodontic work and inpatient behavioral health services to transplants and some speech pathology services.

"It is critical for providers to understand the OHCA cannot process any prior authorization request without first receiving all the necessary documentation," Lopez said. "They must know that if they provide services before they run through the authorization process, they run the risk that those services may be denied." The reason is not to deny patient needs, but to verify the medical necessity, said Lopez. It also helps guide people to the best place to receive care.

With some SoonerCare clients tapping more expensive emergency room services up to 15 times a quarter, Deputy State Medicaid Director Becky Pasternik-Ikard said OHCA has attempted several programs in its medical home model to educate patients on primary care options or intervene in expense ER usages.

Their progress still has some way to go. Provider Education Specialist Lana Brown said 42 percent of SoonerCare's total 103,669 ER visits in fiscal 2012 were by users who had three or fewer ER visits a quarter. The other 58 percent came from users who had four or more ER visits in at least one quarter.

The OHCA also has scored successes. Through a two-tiered chronic disease management program focusing on the patient, Health Care Management Medical Director Mike Herndon said OHCA had achieved double-digit reductions in inpatient stays, and 5- to 18-percent reductions in emergency room visits. Net savings from that program totaled $86.2 million last year, for a 416-percent return on investment.

Lawmakers object to funding for nonprofits

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Two Republican state lawmakers are asking Gov. Mary Fallin to block tax dollars from being used to fund nonprofit groups.

State Reps. Paul Wesselhoft of Moore and Sally Kern of Oklahoma City say more than $12 million appropriated to four state agencies this year are intended for nonprofits. Examples of the spending include the IPRA National Finals Rodeo, which has received $50,000 over a two-year period, the Rural Enterprise Institute, which has received $2.25 million over three years, and the OK Expo, which got $2 million this year.

Wesselhoft said he believes tax dollars should not go to non-profit organizations. He says the spending is contrary to the spirit of the Oklahoma Constitution

Kern said that when lawmakers pass a state budget, they intend that the tax money be spent appropriately.

Office of State Finance changes its name

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Office of State Finance has changed its name to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said the name change reflects the agency's expanded role under a 2011 consolidation law that folded four other departments into the Office of State Finance.

The name change took effect Friday, but the Department of Central Services, the Office of Personnel Management, the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and the Employees Benefits Council became part of the finance agency last year.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will have eight divisions, including Administrative, Information Services, Central Purchasing and Capital Assets Management.

Other divisions are Budget, Policy and Communications; the Employees Group Insurance Division; the Division of Central Accounting and Reporting; and Human Capital Management.

Lawmaker wants more money in workers' compensation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma lawmaker who was awarded more than $61,000 in workers' compensation for injuries suffered in a collision as he drove to the state Capitol has appealed for more money, while the state House and its insurance carrier asked for the award to be thrown out.

State Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, was awarded $61,560 in July by a workers' compensation court judge who agreed that an exception to the state's workers' compensation law applies to Christian.

Christian's attorney, Richard Bell, asked the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court to issue a new order "to adequately compensate" Christian.

Most employees are not eligible for workers' compensation for injuries suffered commuting to or from work, but there's an exception when an employer pays employees' travel expenses.

The judge agreed that the exception applied to Christian because legislators are entitled to reimbursement for their mileage for one round trip per week to the Capitol. The judge said it applied even though Christian had waived reimbursement.

CompSource Oklahoma, the state House of Representatives' insurance carrier, claims that the exception did not apply because Christian was carpooling with his wife.

"Because claimant was commuting with his wife, who was to continue on to her place of employment in their personal vehicle, he could not have claimed mileage for the trip even if he had not waived his right since the trip did not serve a public purpose," according to CompSource attorney Kristi Bynum Russell.

The award was the third time Christian has received benefits in workers' compensation court. The other two times involved injuries suffered while he was a trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Christian was awarded $9,942 in benefits in 1998 for injuries suffered in 1996 when his patrol car was struck from behind during a traffic stop.

In 2001, Christian was awarded $15,000 in benefits for injuries suffered in both a 1999 turnpike accident and from a 2000 arrest of a suspect.

In the latest accident, Christian testified that he struck a truck whose driver made an illegal U-turn in front of him on Feb. 26, 2009.

The driver of the truck left the scene and has not been found.

Voters determine general election ballot

By M. Scott Carter

The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahomans returned to the polls Tuesday to finalize their primary election choices in several state precincts, including new legislators in several metro-area Oklahoma City districts and Republican and Democrat candidates for the 2nd Congressional District.

In the 2nd district race, GOP newcomer Markwayne Mullin captured 56.8 percent of the vote, while state Rep. George Faught picked up 43.2 percent. Mullin had 12,046 votes, compared to Faught's 9,159.

Democrats picked Rob Wallace as their nominee over Wayne Herriman. Wallace earned 57 percent of the vote - 25,073 ballots - while Herriman had 18,901 votes.

Mullin and Wallace will face each other in the November general election.

In the state Senate, Republicans picked up two additional seats.

In Shawnee Ron Sharp defeated Ed Moore in the campaign for Senate District 17. Sharp picked up 52 percent of the vote (1,705 votes), compared to Moore's 48 percent (1,608).

In Tulsa, Republican Nathan Dahm captured a formerly Democratic seat, Senate District 33, with 53.9 percent (2,418 votes) of the ballots cast. Dahm defeated Tim Wright, who earned 2,071 votes, about 46.1 percent.

In Norman, GOP candidate Rob Standridge will face Democrat Claudia Griffith in the Senate District 15 race in the fall. Standridge earned 66 percent of the vote (2,578 votes), while Jack Beller had 1,326 votes (34 percent).

Voters in the Senate District 43 race chose Republican Corey Brooks over his opponent, Peggy Davenport. Brooks earned 1,976 votes (67.5 percent), compared to Davenport's 951 ballots, or 32.5 percent.

Moore voters picked a new state representative when Mark McBride defeated his opponent, Paula Sullivan, in the race for House District 53. Unofficial election returns showed McBride with 58.9 percent of the vote and Sullivan with 41.1 percent. McBride won 991 votes while McBride had 692.

Since no Democrat filed for the seat, McBride will be sworn in this fall.

In the House District 88 campaign, Kay Floyd outdistanced her opponent, Mike Dover. Floyd won 63 percent of the vote (904 votes) against Dover's 532, (37 percent).

Voters in House District 70 chose Ken Walker over fellow Republican Shane Saunders. Walker captured 1,653 votes, about 53.5 percent, and Saunders had 1,419 votes or 46.5 percent.

In the House District 14 race, Jerry Rains defeated Bobby Jefferson 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent. Rains earned 1,522 votes against Jefferson's 1,080.

Okla. GOP eyes sweep, but Democrats vow fight

By Sean Murphy

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - With the final candidates in place for November's congressional matchups, Republicans focused Wednesday on a clean sweep of Oklahoma's delegation, while Democrats looked to defend their only congressional seat and expressed cautious optimism that a second seat in Tulsa could be in play this year.

Democrats desperately want to hold on to the state's 2nd Congressional District in eastern Oklahoma, where their nominee Rob Wallace, a 49-year-old veteran prosecutor, will face Westville plumber Markwayne Mullin, 35. The seat was left open when current U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the lone Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, decided not to seek a fifth term in office.

And while both sides acknowledge that the open 2nd District is this November's top political prize, Democrats are encouraged about their chances in the 1st Congressional District in Tulsa where a tea party-backed Republican, Jim Bridenstine, knocked off five-term incumbent U.S. Rep. John Sullivan in the GOP primary in June. That upset gave Democrat John Olson, a 35-year-old attorney and Afghanistan war veteran, an opening he believes he can exploit.

"I was fully anticipating running against John Sullivan, and this absolutely changes the dynamic to some degree," Olson said. "It definitely makes things a lot easier than they would have been otherwise."

The unexpected wrinkle in the 1st District race puts added pressure on Democrats to carefully divide their finite campaign resources.

Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Wallace Collins agreed that the 2nd District is the top priority for the party this fall, but he added: "We're certainly not ignoring the 1st District by any means."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also has placed a priority on the 2nd District and sent out an email blasting GOP nominee Mullin just hours after the polls closed on Tuesday.

Even as Republicans were in Florida celebrating the nomination of Mitt Romney at the GOP's national convention, Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell said activists were busy at work in the 2nd District with hopes of an all-red state delegation.

"We're going to make sure our base understands that we can't take this race for granted," Pinnell said. "I've got volunteers on the doorstep as we speak. I have people on the phones as we speak. We know that we've got to work hard every day to make sure Republicans turn out, but also to make the argument for Markwayne Mullin to conservative Democrats and independents."

Pinnell acknowledged that Bridenstine's upset of Sullivan in the 1st District makes that a race for an open seat, but he said he's confident Bridenstine can keep the seat in the Republican column.

"Now, we can't just sit in our La-Z-Boys and expect to win," Pinnell said. "I tell my Republicans all the time - Democrats aren't going to lay over and just let us have this race. We have to continue to work at this."

As for Oklahoma's other three congressional seats, even the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party acknowledges that incumbent Republican U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas in the 3rd District, Tom Cole in the 4th District and James Lankford in the 5th District will be tough to unseat in November.

"Obviously, a Democratic win in any of those other districts would be an upset of major proportions," said Chairman Wallace Collins, who noted that Democratic challengers in all three districts will have a major disadvantage in funding. "It's going to be tough sledding over there."

Okla. committeeman to resign from GOP

By Sean Murphy

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Republican Party's national committeeman skipped this week's GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., and said Tuesday he plans to resign from the party and register as an independent.

National Committeeman James Dunn told The Associated Press he was upset with the nation's two-party system and "totally disagrees" with much of the GOP's state and national platforms.

"I don't like the Republican Party any more than the Democratic Party. It's come to the point with me that I think both parties have left the public," Dunn told the AP in an exclusive interview. "I think they're not looking out for the best interests of the public. They're looking out for the best interest of the wealthy and the lobbyists."

His absence from the Republican National Convention was noticed during a roll call Tuesday, when Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin announced votes from 40 of the state's 43 delegates. Two Ron Paul supporters who refused to vote for presidential nominee Mitt Romney, despite being obligated to do so, had their votes voided.

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell said he was not aware of Dunn's plans to skip the convention.

"I tried to reach him (about picking up his convention credentials)," Pinnell told the AP. "He didn't return a text message."

Pinnell later said in a text message to the AP that he was disappointed in Dunn's decision to skip the convention.

"If James didn't plan on fulfilling his job as national committeeman, a role our party elected him to, then he should have done the right thing and resigned to let his successor (Steve Fair) take his place in Tampa to represent our party," Pinnell wrote.

Dunn, 51, an Oklahoma City attorney and a lifelong Republican, was elected to a four-year term as the state's national committeeman in 2008. He didn't seek re-election to the post at this year's state convention.

Dunn, a Paul supporter, said he's particularly troubled with the Republican Party's push to overhaul Oklahoma's civil justice system, commonly referred to as tort reform, to limit the amount that injured people can receive in damages.

"It's just wrong what they're doing," Dunn said. "A jury should decide what people's damages are."

He said he's also against the GOP's position to oppose any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"Throwing these people out is not the answer, and we know it's not going to work," Dunn said. "I don't want illegal criminals and drug dealers - no one wants that. But what about these people who have families and established lives in our country?"

Dunn said he hopes to push to open the state's current closed primary system to allow independents to vote in primaries and encourage more voter participation in elections.

"Everybody is tired of the political partisanship fighting," Dunn said. "I think what we've got to do is stand up for voters and voter rights. Maybe the politicians would stop worrying about what the party says and do what's right for the state."

Have a good week.  Give me a call at 918.671.6860 if I can be of help in any way

                  Steve Lewis

 
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2012 DEADLINES
 
 




This Week's News
Stretching Medicaid Dollars
Lawmakers Object to Funding Nonprofits
New Name for Office of State Finance
Lawmaker Wants More WC
General Election Ballot
Democrats Vow Fight
Committeeman to Resign