As the Medicaid plan reaches its biggest number of enrollees, the program’s chief executive said more funding would be necessary. Unfortunately, health care services will probably be cut down as officials roll back costs due to an intensifying statewide budget shortfall.

In the past year, there are about 825,000 Oklahomans who received medical help through one of the health care programs managed by the state’s Medicaid provider, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, CEO Mike Fogarty told members of a House budget subcommittee that appropriates health care dollars.

“We are setting a record every day,” Fogarty said last Wednesday.

Medicaid which provides assistance to the elderly, disabled, and children of low-income families with a combination of state revenue and federal matching funds hits its peak as the number of people losing their jobs continuously increase.

“Every month our rolls are going up faster than they’ve ever gone up before,” Fogarty said. “As the economy worsens, more people qualify for the program.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 31 million uninsured individuals would receive insurance if Obama’s health care bill is ratified.

Unless big changes come our way, Fogarty said he is recommending the reduction or elimination of several dental, pharmaceutical and medical services that serve thousands of Medicaid recipients. The recommendations must be approved by the OHCA board of directors.