Conversations on Care with OAHP

Latest Episodes:

Bettering Health through Community Partnerships with Brooke Townsend of BCBSOK May 24, 2022

Show notes

Oklahoma is home to some of the worst health outcome rankings in the country, driven in part by factors outside of health care such as food insecurity and unstable housing. Fortunately, hundreds of local nonprofits across the state are working to address the core issues that lead to poor health outcomes.

Brooke Townsend, director of community affairs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, shares how social factors influence overall health outcomes and how BCBSOK partners with community organizations to help enhance the health and well-being of Oklahomans.

Advancing Behavioral Health Services with Traylor Rains of OHCA and Heath Hayes of ODMHSAS May 17, 2022

Show notes

On average, approximately 75,000 to 85,000 Oklahomans on SoonerCare receive mental health or substance use services every month.

In this episode, Traylor Rains with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and Heath Hayes with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services share how the two state agencies partner to provide mental and behavioral health care for Oklahomans and how the state can improve health outcomes by enhancing access to care.

Transforming Rural Health Care with Dr. Todd Hoffman of BCBSOK May 10, 2022

Show notes

Nearly one-third of Oklahomans live in rural communities, yet on average rural residents experience worse health outcomes than their urban neighbors.

Dr. Todd Hoffman, chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and native of rural Oklahoma, explores the obstacles in delivering care to rural Oklahomans and how the state can make progress toward improving health outcomes in rural communities.

Delivering Care to Oklahoma Medicaid Members with Ellen Buettner of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority May 03, 2022

Show notes

More than 1.2 million Oklahomans – 30% of the population – currently depend on Medicaid for health care coverage. But because of Oklahoma’s fee-for-service delivery model, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority often is limited in its ability to address and improve poor health outcomes in SoonerCare members.

In this episode, OHCA Chief of Staff Ellen Buettner offers an in-depth look at the challenges facing the agency in its efforts to provide health care coverage and how Medicaid reform could impact the lives of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable populations.

Addressing Social Barriers through Managed Care with Dr. Keisia Sobers-Butler Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

All too often, Oklahomans on Medicaid must wrestle with poor health because of factors outside of traditional health care such as food insecurity or a lack of transportation.

In this episode, Dr. Keisia Sobers-Butler, R.N. – vice president of population health and clinical operations at Oklahoma Complete Health – couples her personal encounters with complex health needs and her professional experience in care coordination as she shares how Medicaid managed care programs help address the core issues causing poor health outcomes in Oklahomans on SoonerCare.

Integrating Behavioral Health for Better Outcomes with Dr. Doug Nemecek of Cigna Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Each year, thousands of Oklahomans experience mental and behavioral illnesses, which have a direct impact on their overall health and well-being. But care for mental and physical health are often isolated and disconnected.

Dr. Doug Nemecek – a psychiatrist and Cigna’s chief medical officer for behavioral health – shares the value of integrating mental and physical health care and explains how health plans are spearheading efforts to expand access to behavioral care to achieve greater health outcomes.

Creating a Healthier Oklahoma through Medicaid Reform with Joe Fairbanks of Humana Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Oklahoma has ranked near-last in health outcomes for decades, more than a quarter of the state’s population relies on Medicaid for health care, and our current delivery system isn’t adequately equipped to address the underlying issues leading to poor health.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Joseph Fairbanks, a vice president at Humana and native Oklahoman, brings his years of health care policy experience to a discussion on how reforming Medicaid through managed care can empower Oklahomans to live healthier, fuller lives.

Improving Delivery of Care with Dr. Lynn Mitchell of Oklahoma Complete Health Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

Achieving quality health outcomes requires more than only treating symptoms in a hospital or doctor’s office, but also addressing the social barriers to care that routinely face many Oklahomans.

With more than three decades as a physician, a health care administrator and a former Medicaid director, Dr. Lynn Mitchell has brought her expertise to Oklahoma Complete Health where she aims to revolutionize health care for Oklahomans. Listen in to hear Dr. Mitchell’s perspective on how health plans are uniquely positioned to deliver care that can help Oklahoma lead the nation in health outcomes.

Connecting Oklahomans to Care with Ricky Trussell of BCBSOK Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

Oklahomans are freed to live happier and healthier lives when they can access needed preventive health care services. But navigating the health care system alone can be tricky.

In this episode, we sit down with Ricky Trussell – a community outreach specialist with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma – to explore the barriers Oklahomans face when accessing care and how he helps bridge the gap between Oklahomans and the care they need. Tune in to learn more about Ricky’s passion for helping connect Oklahomans in all 77 counties with quality, affordable health care.

Learn more:

www.bcbsok.com
www.okhealthplans.org

Welcome to Conversations on Care with OAHP Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

How can Oklahoma improve health outcomes and create a brighter future for its residents? The OAHP Conversations on Care podcast will explore the efforts of Oklahoma’s health coverage providers to deliver better care and healthier lives for all Oklahomans. Tune in each week to hear the voices of the health care professionals working tirelessly to provide Oklahomans with affordable access to quality health care.

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