Representations of the Affordable Care Act in Oklahoma Government Press Releases 2010 to 2015

Abstract

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed, expanding healthcare access to all uninsured U.S. citizens. Specific provisions included expanding Medicaid coverage to individuals with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and providing federal subsidies to purchase private health insurance to individuals with incomes between 100% and 400% of the FPL. Despite Oklahoma’s 18% medically uninsured rate, Oklahoma legislators opted to deny expansion and its associated federal funds to expand healthcare services within Oklahoma. This decision by lawmakers to deny healthcare expansion, juxtaposed next to Oklahoma’s historically unhealthy population, suggests the need to examine Oklahoma’s political representation of underinsured citizens through government press releases. Accordingly, I use discourse analysis to review press releases retrieved from government websites between 2010 and 2015. I use these press releases to determine how government media and individual legislators use political, economic, or social themes to garner support for or against ACA expansion and associated healthcare reforms. I then relate this information to the voting patterns, distribution of underinsured constituencies, and the overall health status of Oklahoma. This analysis shows government media and Oklahoma legislators discuss healthcare reform to address constituency needs and interests concerning healthcare reform in Oklahoma between 2010-2015. This study may be used to encourage legislative and constituency awareness of healthcare issues in Oklahoma. It also reveals important information for constituencies about how media and legislators tailor their political discussions to garner support for political positions that may or may not represent Oklahoma’s best interests. The context of this research rests in both health and political geographies, as the issue of healthcare policy is specific to place and maintains a mutually constitutive relationship between its development, government, and the people.