In a surprising turn-of-events in the conservative state of Oklahoma, leaders are now moving towards a plan to expand its Medicaid program to bring in billions of federal dollars from President Barack Obama’s new health care system, according to Associated Press reports yesterday.

Oklahoma has denied expanding the program under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, a sentiment loudly echoed by the Texas Legislature. State money is low due to the fallout of the oil industry, and doctors and Medicaid providers face cuts of up to 25 percent.

DFW Hospital Council President/CEO W. Stephen Love offered a comment on the shocking about-face: “Oklahoma is seriously considering Medicaid expansion now. Hopefully, we can look objectively at the uninsured population in Texas and develop a bipartisan comprehensive, collaborative initiative to increase coverage and access for our citizens.”

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