<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1isQL2_1Cv037Iy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1isQL2_1Cv037Iy00" width="600" height="480" ><figcaption>Terri Jo Littau , Woodward</figcaption></figure>OHCA Told Its Board No Hospital Cuts Were Coming. Days Later, It Filed $218 Million in Cuts With the Feds.The Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s board was told Friday that its flat budget for the coming fiscal year would not require cuts to hospitals or other medical providers. Days later, the agency filed plans with the federal government to cut $218 million in Medicaid payments to state hospitals.The filing with the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services proposed a 20% reduction to the Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program, which helps hospitals recover revenue lost when treating Medicaid patients compared with those covered by Medicare or private insurance. The Oklahoma Hospital Association said it was blindsided and sent a letter to OHCA Director Clay Bullard asking the agency to delay its federal filing until hospitals could review the estimates and assumptions behind the cut.At Friday’s board meeting, Bullard told members the agency had found a way to cover an estimated $66 million shortfall using carryover funds and a legislative green light to tap a reserve account if needed.“The summary of this budget is: hospitals got no cuts, providers got no cuts, no member will have a program that will be cut,” Bullard said.The contradiction drew immediate pushback. Hospital Association president Rich Rasmussen said stakeholders had been warned earlier about possible SHOPP reductions tied to the agency’s budget shortfall, but believed those cuts were off the table after lawmakers approved an additional $250 million and legislative leaders gave the agency flexibility to access reserves.A series of meetings with lawmakers and hospital officials is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the proposed cuts. OHCA officials did not respond to requests for comment.Paul Monies reported the details in his story.More worth knowing: Tribes Receive Housing GrantsFive Oklahoma tribes have been awarded a total of $1.6 million in grant money to support affordable housing and community development projects. Tribal leaders with the Cheyenne and Arapaho, Iowa, Osage Nation, Otoe-Missouria and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians plan to use the money to improve housing conditions or accessibility for veterans and older or impoverished members. [Oklahoma Voice]Inola Pauses Smelter ProjectThe Inola Town Council declared a 60-day moratorium on new construction in the Industrial Heavy District, effectively pressing pause on a controversial aluminum smelter. [Tulsa World ▲] [KOSU]City Officials Cleared in Data Center InvestigationThe Coweta police chief announced no criminal wrongdoing was found regarding the planning of a now-dead data center project near the city’s wastewater treatment plant. On May 6, the chief announced the criminal investigation against city officials at the request of the Coweta City Council. [Tulsa World ▲]Pipeline From Wyoming to Cushing PlannedCanada’s South Bow and U.S.-based Bridger Pipeline plan to jointly develop a new oil ‌pipeline from Guernsey, Wyoming, to Cushing. The pipeline would be the third leg of a bigger project to ​move oil from Alberta to the Cushing hub. [Reuters]▲=Possible paywallOn July 2, 1862, Union troops surprised and routed a Confederate encampment at Locust Grove in present-day Mayes County, part of the campaign to drive Confederate forces from Indian Territory.Ciao for now,Ted StreuliExecutive Director, Oklahoma Watch<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3IgxKp_1Cv037Iy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3IgxKp_1Cv037Iy00" width="800" height="1000" ></figure>Help Us Make a DifferenceOklahoma needs high-quality investigative journalism. That is our mission at Oklahoma Watch. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you to sustain our coverage. Will you help us make a difference?<h2>Support our publication </h2>Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.</div></body>

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OHCA Told Its Board No Hospital Cuts Were Coming. Days Later, It Filed $218 Million in Cuts With the Feds. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s board was told Friday that its flat budget for the coming fiscal year would not require cuts to hospitals or other medical providers. Days later, the agency filed plans with the federal government to cut $218 million in Medicaid payments to state hospitals.

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OHCA Told Its Board No Hospital Cuts Were Coming. Days Later, It Filed $218 Million in Cuts With the Feds. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s board was t

First Watch: Stuff You Should Know

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