Oklahoma Health Care Authority

Oklahoma Health Care Authority
Oklahoma Health Care Authority logo
Agency overview
Formed	July 1, 1993
Headquarters	4545 N Lincoln Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees	416 unclassified
Annual budget	$4.5 billion
Ministers responsible	Terri L. White, Secretary of Health Charles Ed McFall, Chair of the Board
Agency executive	Michael Fogarty, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer
Website
www.okhca.org

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OKHCA) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for purchasing health insurance benefits for Oklahoma's state employees and for the state's Medicaid recipients. The Authority is the state level counter-part to the national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Authority is led by a Board of Directors, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Board in turn appoints the Administrator of the Authority, who serves as the chief executive officer of the Authority.

The Authority was created in 1993 during the term of Governor David Walters.

Leadership

The Authority is led by the Secretary of Health, the Chair of the Board of Directors, and the Administrator/Chief Executive Officer of the Authority. Under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry, the Secretary of Health is Terri White, the Chair of the Board is Charles Ed McFall and Michael Fogarty is the Administrator/Chief Executive Officer.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Authority, which directs the actions and oversees the operation of the Authority. The Board is composed of seven members, with three appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, two appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and two appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. At least two of the members appointed by the Governor must be consumers of Medicaid. All other Appointed members must have experience with medical care, health care services, health care delivery, health care finance, health insurance or managed health care. Each Board member serves a four-year term. In making the appointments, the appointing authority is to give consideration to urban, rural, gender and minority representation.

As of 2009, the current members of the Board are:

• Charles Ed McFall - Chairman, appointed by Speaker of the House
• Tony Armstrong - Vice-Chairman, appointed by Senate President pro tempore
• Bill Anoatubby - appointed by Governor
• Sandra Langenkamp - appointed by Governor
• Melvin R. McVay Jr. - appointed by Senate President pro tempore
• George Miller - appointed by Speaker of the House
• Lyle Roggow - appointed by Governor

Organization

The Authority is divided into four service branches: Soonercare Operations, Financial Services, Information Services, and Legal Services.

• Office of the Administrator - led by the Administrator of the Authority, immediate staff of the Administrator and provides policy direction for Authority and support to Board of Directors
  • Administrative Services - led by Administrator's Chief of Staff
  • Civil Rights/Freedom of Information Act Office
  • Policy, Planning and Integrity Office - led by Deputy Chief Executive Officer
  • External Relations and Communications Office - led by Deputy Chief Executive Officer
• Soonercare Operations - led by State Medicaid Director
  • Medical Professional Support
  • Program Operations and Benefits
  • Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement
  • Opportunities for Living Life
  • Insure Oklahoma
• Financial Services - led by Chief Financial Officer
• Information Services - led by Chief Information Officer
• Legal Services - led by General Counsel

Supporting Agencies

• Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board
• Advisory Committee on Medical Care for Public Assistance Recipients

External links

• Oklahoma Health Care Authority official website