AGP Executive Report

Rabies Alert: A skunk found near Elk City’s Great Plains Regional Medical Center tested positive for rabies. State officials say Oklahoma had 33 animal cases as of two months ago, below its usual 40 to 60 a year. Epilepsy Coverage: Oklahoma lawmakers plan to revive a bill in 2027 requiring insurance coverage for certain epilepsy treatments; more than 41,000 Oklahomans live with the condition, advocates say. Maternal Health: OU received more than $5 million in federal funding for four maternal-health projects, including research with tribal communities. A separate report counted at least 222 Oklahoma criminal cases involving pregnancy or birth since 2022. Food and Wellness: Farmers, physicians and wellness experts met in Edmond to explore how nutrient-rich food and regenerative agriculture could support healthier communities. Emergency Care: Saint Francis received a $3 million grant to expand emergency services near Lake Eufaula.

Emergency Care: Saint Francis will use a $3 million grant to add six emergency rooms and permanent imaging services at its Eufaula facility, expanding 24/7 care for McIntosh County residents and Lake Eufaula visitors. Public Health: A skunk found in an Elk City hospital parking lot tested positive for rabies, prompting a warning from health officials. Research: OU researchers received a $2.9 million grant to study a potential treatment combining CAR T-cell therapy and opaganib for high-risk multiple myeloma. Children’s Health: Oklahoma lawmakers are discussing healthier school lunches, while Oklahoma City and OKC Public Schools received $11.5 million in federal grants to improve youth mental health care.

Rabies Alert: A skunk found near the patient entrance at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have encountered it around noon Oct. 15 should call the state’s 24-hour epidemiology line at 405-426-8710 for an exposure assessment. Research: OU secured a $2.9 million federal grant for clinical trials testing whether opaganib can improve CAR T-cell treatment for high-risk multiple myeloma. A separate OU-linked study found the protein Miro1 may contribute to insulin resistance, opening a possible path to new diabetes treatments. School Nutrition: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing healthier school lunches, including more fresh produce and whole grains and less highly processed food, sugar and sodium. SoonerCare: The Oklahoma Health Care Authority reports a 0.15% Medicaid payment error rate, well below the 6.12% national average; the state’s CHIP rate was also below the U.S. average. Drug Safety: An Oklahoma State University student died from toxicity involving concentrated 7-OH and kratom, products sold at some gas stations. The FDA warns 7-OH can be highly potent and carry a risk of dependence.

Diabetes Research: A new study led by OU Health’s Harold Hamm Diabetes Center director identified the muscle protein Miro1 as a possible contributor to insulin resistance. Removing it improved insulin response in preclinical models, while exercise lowered its levels in people with type 2 diabetes; it is not yet a treatment. Health Coverage: Centene plans to expand its employee health reimbursement program to Oklahoma workers for 2027, as the insurer grows its individual-coverage offering. Youth Mental Health: Oklahoma City and OKCPS received $11.5 million in federal grants to improve mental health services for children. Maternal Care: Ascension St. John hospitals were recognized for efforts to improve outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and babies.

Mental Health: Oklahoma City and OKCPS received $11.5 million in federal grants for youth mental-health services, while Sunbeam Family Services is accepting new adult clients. Hospital Care: SSM Health St. Anthony ranked No. 1 in Oklahoma City in U.S. News rankings; Ascension St. John hospitals were recognized for perinatal care, and NHS for efforts to improve outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and babies. Tribal and Community Health: The Muscogee Nation launched its first tribally owned Medicare Advantage plan. OU researchers are developing a digital diabetes-prevention program and a project addressing pain-care disparities for Native Americans. Health Investments: Mercy Hospital Ardmore plans a $20 million renovation focused on patient experience, and the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System received funding for maintenance and infrastructure.

Medicare Access: A CMS deputy administrator says parts of Medicare’s WISeR prior-authorization test are not working. The program covers Oklahoma, where reviews of some outpatient services could delay care. Youth Health: Southern Nazarene University is mourning football player Tyler Ulrich, 21, who died days after an injury during a game. Mental Health: Oklahoma City and OKC Public Schools received $11.5 million for youth mental health care; Sunbeam Family Services is also accepting new adult mental health clients. Maternal Care: Ascension St. John hospitals were recognized for perinatal care, while NHS highlighted efforts to improve outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and babies. Prevention & Policy: An Oklahoma doctor is urging flu vaccination ahead of the holidays. New medical marijuana packaging rules take effect Nov. 1, as a state lawmaker calls for a pause amid frequent changes.

Inclusive Wellness: Santa Fe Family Life Center’s new Wheel, Walk, Run 5K aims to make fitness and recreation accessible to Oklahomans of all ages and abilities. Youth Mental Health: Oklahoma City and OKC Public Schools received $11.5 million in federal grants to improve children’s mental health care. Sunbeam Family Services is also accepting new adult mental health clients. Campus Loss: Southern Nazarene University safety Tyler Ulrich, 21, died five days after a traumatic injury during a game; the school canceled its next football matchup. Health Policy: New Oklahoma medical marijuana packaging rules take effect Nov. 1, while a state lawmaker is urging a pause on frequent rule changes. Care and Prevention: An Oklahoma doctor is urging flu vaccination ahead of the holidays. Oklahoma hospitals, including Ascension St. John, earned recognition for perinatal care, and the Indian Health Service has begun rolling out a new electronic health record system in Oklahoma.

Mental Health: Oklahoma City nonprofit Sunbeam Family Services is accepting new adult clients for therapy, while OKC and OKCPS received $11.5 million in federal grants for children’s mental health care. Maternal Care: Ascension St. John hospitals earned recognition for perinatal care, supporting efforts to improve outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and babies. Health Access: The Muscogee Nation has launched a Medicare Advantage plan, and Oklahoma is proposing a reinsurance program to help lower health insurance premiums. Prevention & Research: OU researchers developed a digital program to help Oklahomans prevent diabetes, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received $3.2 million to study a common cause of heart failure. State Oversight: New medical marijuana packaging rules take effect Nov. 1 as state officials weigh further regulation of kratom.

Children’s Mental Health: Oklahoma City secured $11.5 million in federal grants to expand youth mental health care in schools and communities. A local study found children’s mental health-related ER visits rose 27% from 2022 to 2024, while fewer children accessed traditional services. Maternal Care: Twenty-eight Oklahoma hospitals received perinatal-care awards for efforts to improve outcomes for mothers and babies, including Northeastern Health System. Health Workforce: State workforce leaders are developing a tool to pinpoint gaps in fields such as nursing, where limited training capacity is a barrier. Respiratory Health: With RSV season underway, an Oklahoma mother whose daughter has been hospitalized three times urges parents to take worsening coughs seriously; OU Health says the virus can be especially dangerous for newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Hospital News: SSM Health St. Anthony ranked No. 1 among Oklahoma City hospitals in U.S. News rankings.

Medical Marijuana: Oklahoma’s new packaging rules take effect Nov. 1, requiring clear THC serving and dose labels and banning designs aimed at children. Dispensaries may still sell noncompliant inventory already on hand. Cancer Prevention: OSU’s “Don’t Duck with Cancer” event invited students to honor loved ones and learn about breast cancer. Oklahoma’s 2024 breast cancer death rate was 22.5 per 100,000 women, among the nation’s highest. Research and Access: OU researchers developed a digital program to help Oklahomans prevent diabetes and launched a mobile-health project focused on pain disparities affecting Native Americans. Community Health: Oklahoma City and its public schools received $11.5 million for youth mental health, while an OKC clinic started a free stress-management program for teachers. The Muscogee Nation also launched its first tribally owned Medicare Advantage plan. Coverage Costs: Oklahoma is proposing a reinsurance program intended to lower health insurance premiums. Patient Care: Mercy Hospital Ardmore plans a $20 million renovation focused on the patient experience.

Diabetes Prevention: OU researchers secured $300,000 to build a digital program connecting blood donors whose tests suggest prediabetes or diabetes with education and care. About one in eight Oklahomans has type 2 diabetes. Native Health: A five-year, $3.4 million NIH grant will fund an OU-led mobile app for chronic pain, designed with and for Native Americans to help address barriers to treatment. Care Access: The Muscogee Nation launched its first tribally owned Medicare Advantage plan. Mercy Hospital Ardmore also plans a $20 million renovation, including emergency department upgrades and redesigned patient spaces. Youth Wellness: Oklahoma City and OKCPS received $11.5 million for youth mental health. Health Research: The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received $3.2 million to study a common cause of heart failure.

Medical Marijuana: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing tighter oversight amid mistrust in cannabis testing, while Rep. T.J. Marti says the state should pause new rules and let recent changes take effect. Flu Prevention: Oklahoma doctors are urging vaccination ahead of the holidays, as clinics ramp up in Green Country and officials warn flu season may start early. Health Coverage: Oklahoma has proposed a reinsurance program aimed at lowering health insurance premiums. Meanwhile, SNAP household participation in the state fell 21.1% from June 2025 to June 2026 after federal eligibility and work-rule changes, raising concerns about food access. Tribal Health Care: The Indian Health Service has begun rolling out a new electronic health record system in Oklahoma. Research: The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received $3.2 million to study a common cause of heart failure. Kratom: State officials are considering new rules or a possible ban, with researchers examining the effects of kratom and THC drinks on young people.

Flu Prevention: OU Health infectious-disease chief Douglas Drevets urges Oklahomans to get a flu shot now, ideally one to two weeks before Thanksgiving. Older adults, young children and people with chronic conditions face higher risk of severe illness. Native Health: The Indian Health Service has launched its new electronic health record system at Lawton Indian Hospital and two nearby clinics, beginning a wider modernization effort. OU physician Dorothy Rhoades, a leader in Native cancer care, was named the Association of American Indian Physicians’ 2026 Physician of the Year. Research: The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received $3.2 million to study a common cause of heart failure. Access & Policy: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing kratom regulations amid concerns about youth access and THC drinks. The state is also proposing a reinsurance program aimed at lowering health insurance premiums.

Health IT: The Indian Health Service has launched a new electronic health record system in Oklahoma, a major change for tribal patients and care teams. Youth Safety: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing tighter rules—or a possible ban—on kratom, alongside concerns about young people’s access to kratom and THC drinks. Coverage and Access: The state has proposed a reinsurance program aimed at lowering health insurance premiums, while new mental health workforce data could help identify gaps in care. Seasonal Health: Flu shot clinics are ramping up across Green Country as officials warn the virus may be arriving early. Rural Care: A rural Oklahoma hospital has restored maternity services, but faces questions about whether the program can withstand healthcare funding cuts.

Seasonal Health: Flu shot clinics are ramping up in Green Country as flu activity may be starting early; health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated. Kratom and Youth Safety: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing tighter rules or a possible ban on kratom and are examining how kratom and THC drinks reach young people, amid concerns about addiction and reported overdose deaths. Coverage Costs: The state has proposed a reinsurance program intended to lower health insurance premiums. Care Access: New workforce data could help Oklahoma target mental-health access gaps, while a rural hospital is working to restore maternity care amid funding concerns. Heart Care: Oklahoma Heart Institute’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement program earned a national three-star rating. Emergency Response: Air Evac Lifeteam has added whole blood to aircraft based in Grove, expanding treatment options for patients before they reach a hospital.

Insurance Costs: Oklahoma is seeking federal approval for a reinsurance program starting in 2028, projected to lower premiums 4.1%–6.4% statewide over five years and by as much as 14.6% in some high-cost areas. Flu Prevention: Saint Francis Hospital reports more flu patients in its emergency room and is urging Oklahomans to get vaccinated; protection takes about two weeks to build. Mental Health: New Oklahoma workforce data may help guide efforts to improve access to care. Heart Care: Oklahoma Heart Institute’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement program earned a national three-star rating. Emergency Response: Grove-based Air Evac Lifeteam has added whole blood to aircraft, expanding its ability to treat patients in flight. Medicare Choices: Oklahoma is among states where some counties will have no general Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage in 2027, adding urgency to open-enrollment decisions. Rural Maternity Care: One rural Oklahoma hospital has brought back maternity services, but faces questions about sustaining the program amid healthcare cuts. Fraud Case: An Oklahoma chiropractor was sentenced to 14 years in prison for a scheme that billed Medicare and military health programs more than $30 million for medical equipment.