OKLAHOMA CITY – The theme behind a protest at the state capitol Thursday morning was #DontCutMe.
“I worry that I will lose my house, and I’m afraid that I will lose my roommates,” said Jordan Martin.
Citizens are asking lawmakers to protect Medicaid rates with the budget deadline looming.
“I’d like to have hope. Maybe that’s naive, but I’d like to have hope that we as Oklahomans will do the right thing and recognize that citizens do matter,” said Holly Howard.
With the threat of nursing homes closing and special needs programs on the chopping block, some of the most vulnerable Oklahomans could be the most affected.
Howard will be out of her healthcare job at the end of June – something brought on by previous cuts.
“We need to actually allow the individuals that we’re being a voice for share their voice and be seen,” Howard said. “We wanted their faces to be looked at by the legislators.”
One lawmaker we talked with doubts the impact will be as great as some fear it will be.
For every dollar Oklahoma spends on healthcare, the federal government matches $1.50.
So, every cut to the health care budget means Oklahomans get less.
“Every dollar that gets cut basically is $2.50 less
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