Compassionate Care Task Force Bill Due Vote

A bill by former House Speaker Lance Cargill that encourages charitable and faith-based groups to take a stronger role in providing health care services to Oklahoma's poor is headed to the House floor.

House Bill 3143 creates the Compassionate Care Task Force. The group's mission will be to encourage voluntary and faith-based provision of free health services.

"The state needs to actively support the efforts of charitable health providers in every way possible," said Cargill, R-Harrah. "Faith-based groups particularly have a long and successful track record when it comes to providing for the poor, including health care services. We need to remove any roadblocks that may hinder their efforts to serve and work in a collaborative way to address the needs of thousands of Oklahomans who lack adequate health insurance and medical care."

Cargill noted the legislation is similar to a law he authored last year allowing faith-based groups the opportunity to provide prison rehabilitation services.

The idea is also a result of Cargill's 100 Ideas initiative,which solicited ideas from the citizens of Oklahoma.

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