Oklahoma Watch (https://oklahomawatch.org/author/wvieth/)
Thousands of Oklahomans suffer from hearing loss and can’t afford hearing aids that would improve their quality of life. Medicare and SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program, offer limited or no coverage.
Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans provide little or no coverage for hearing aids. But some government and nonprofit programs can help Oklahomans with at least a portion of the cost.
Oklahoma saw a record 517 reports of newborn infants who tested positive for dangerous drugs or alcohol last year. Much of the increase involved exposure to marijuana, with prescription drugs and meth also frequently detected.
An Oklahoma Watch analysis of more than 3,000 horizontal wells shows that more than half of a typical well’s projected lifetime oil and gas production will occur during its first three years, when it is taxed at a much lower rate.
An oil industry group’s analysis of oil and gas production in a highly active areas of northwest Oklahoma has found a less steep decline over three years than a statewide study by Oklahoma Watch.
A state oversight panel voted Tuesday to retain 10 business incentives after its consultants rescinded a recommendation to repeal one of them and the state commerce secretary intervened to rescue another.
The full impact of Donald Trump’s presidency in Oklahoma won’t become clear for some time, but its implications already loom large in the areas of health, energy, taxes and infrastructure spending.
Consultants hired by the state have recommended curtailing a big tax break for wind-power electric generating plants and repealing smaller incentives for movies made in Oklahoma and industrial access roads.
Oklahomans planning to sign up for 2017 health coverage under the Affordable Care Act might prepare for a possible case of sticker shock. In this Q&A, Oklahoma Watch examines the reasons behind the ACA market turmoil and the options available to Oklahomans.
Overshadowed by other hot-button state questions, SQ 790 raises fundamental issues about church-state collaboration and could have significant long-term consequences.