Oklahoma Hospital Association

04/08/2026

On the latest episode of Inside the 1581, we’re joined by Sammy Kolbas, regional sales director at Trustmark, and John Symcox, certified financial planner and business development lead at First Fidelity Bank, to discuss the growing importance of long-term care in financial planning and employer benefits. This episode also highlights OHA Insurance’s new long-term care program, which combines permanent life insurance with long-term care coverage in a streamlined solution. Episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

www.insidethe1581.com

04/08/2026

📸 Our Team Representing SMC at OHA’s Caregivers Day Yesterday! 📸

We’re proud to share that three members of our leadership team attended OHA’s annual Caregivers Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol on April 6th.

Pictured left to right: Madi Perks, HR Director; Kim Baugh, CFO; and Jaden Lewis, Controller

Caregivers Day is Oklahoma hospitals’ opportunity to meet directly with legislators and advocate for the issues that matter most to rural healthcare. It’s a powerful day of education, connection, and making our voices heard on behalf of the patients and communities we serve.

We’re grateful to Madi, Kim, and Jaden for taking time to represent Share Medical Center and advocate for rural, critical access hospitals like ours. Thank you for showing up for our patients and our community!

If you’re interested in getting involved with healthcare advocacy, we’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment or message us!

04/07/2026

🎉Nominations NOW OPEN for the 2026 Champions of Health Awards!

🧩Do you know a nonprofit making a difference in the health of Oklahoma communities?

The annual awards recognize organizations and individuals working to improve the health of Oklahomans in the following categories:

🏆Champion of Children’s Health
🏆Champion of Community Health
🏆Champion of Senior Health
🏆Champion of the Uninsured

🧩Winning nonprofits receive funding to help further their mission!

🎉Tag a nonprofit or community leader who should apply🎉
Winners will be honored at the 23rd Annual Gala on Sept. 29 at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa.

For more information, to submit a nomination or for tickets to the Gala visit:
https://www.championsofhealth.org/

04/06/2026

The Oklahoma Hospital Association is partnering on a live forum featuring Republican candidates for governor to discuss issues important to Oklahomans. The forum will be moderated by journalists from News 9 and News On 6 and streamed live statewide by Griffin Media. Click the link to watch the livestream beginning at 5:30.

Live forum with Republican candidates for Governor, including Gentner Drummond, Charles McCall, Chip Keating and Mike Mazzei. Moderators are News 9's Haley H...

03/30/2026

OU Health is helping improve stroke care for rural Oklahomans through its telestroke program, connecting patients to stroke specialists in real time and expanding access to timely, lifesaving treatment. These partnerships are helping rural hospitals deliver care faster and keep more patients closer to home. Click the link to read more.

Nearly 2,000 Oklahomans die from stroke-related complications annually. That burden is felt more in rural communities, where access to specialized care is limited.

03/27/2026

Norman Regional Health System is meeting the needs of hungry Oklahomans in their community through several unique programs. Their food and nutrition services team partners with local agency Food & Shelter to provide freshly prepared meals throughout the year. Click the link to read more. https://buff.ly/7OMNQ7t

03/26/2026

In a guest column in The Oklahoman, Rich Rasmussen, OHA president and CEO, discusses the impact Medicaid expansion has had on Oklahoma’s patients, hospitals and communities, and the potential consequences of proposals to weaken or repeal the program. More than 200,000 Oklahomans currently have health coverage through Medicaid expansion, which has helped improve access to preventive care, reduce uncompensated care and bring billions in federal health care investment into the state.

“Repealing or weakening Medicaid expansion would not simply affect the people who lose coverage. Every Oklahoman would feel the impact,” Rasmussen wrote.
Click the link below to read more.

Expansion helped many low-income adults who previously had few options for health insurance

03/24/2026

The time to review your Medicare coverage is now, with open enrollment ending March 31. MedicareDisadvantaged.org is a trusted resource to help you understand your Medicare options for 2026. Learn more at MedicareDisadvantaged.org.

03/23/2026

In a guest column in The Lawton Constitution, Jay Johnson, president and CEO of DRH Health, highlights the positive impact Medicaid expansion has had on Oklahoma’s hospitals, patients and rural communities. Since voters approved expansion in 2020, more than 220,000 working Oklahomans have gained health coverage, helping reduce uncompensated care, improve access to preventive services and strengthen rural hospitals that serve as economic anchors in their communities. Click the link below to read more.

For many years, Oklahoma has ranked near the bottom in national health measures. Those rankings reflect real challenges: higher rates of chronic disease, limited access to care in rural communities,

03/17/2026

Rich Rasmussen, OHA President and CEO, spoke to the Tulsa World about the significant impact proposed Medicaid changes could have on Oklahoma hospitals. Without changes, hospitals across the state could face cumulative revenue losses totaling more than $6.7 billion by 2039.

“Rural hospitals that already operate on thin financial margins will be increasingly stressed. Additionally, rural communities will find it more difficult to attract physicians,” Rasmussen said.

Click the link below to learn more about how these changes could affect healthcare access across Oklahoma.

Over the course of the decade, 24 hospitals in all in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Muskogee and Sapulpa face prospects of cumulative losses totaling more than $1.6 billion.

03/16/2026

MedicareDisadvantaged.org is a trusted resource for seniors to help compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans especially during the January through March enrollment period. Check it out and share with your friends, family, and communities! �Learn more at MedicareDisadvantaged.org.

Understanding Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans

03/12/2026

On this edition of Inside the 1581, we’re joined by Oklahoma Insurance Department Commissioner Glen Mulready to discuss the Qualified Health Plan Provider Directory pilot program and how Oklahoma is working with federal partners to improve the accuracy of provider directories. The pilot is designed to make it easier for providers to verify their information and help ensure patients can find accurate listings for doctors and hospitals in their health plan networks. Episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

www.insidethe1581.com