OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Kevin Corbett has named Dr. Nathan Valentine as its chief quality officer, the agency said in a news release.
Valentine will oversee OHCA quality assurance and quality improvement programs, which plays a critical role in improving overall health outcomes for SoonerCare members.
“I am passionately committed to improving health for the underserved,” Valentine said. “I am particularly excited about my new role because I will be able to directly engage OHCA staff and community partners in a concerted effort to measurably improve health outcomes for all SoonerCare members.”
As the agency switches to a managed care service delivery model, Valentine will work directly with organizations to implement strategies to work toward Oklahoma’s efforts of becoming a top 10 state in health outcomes. The state currently ranks 46th in health outcomes.
“We are committed to making Oklahoma a top 10 state in health outcomes. Engaging providers through a managed care organization will help us achieve our goal of ensuring Oklahomans receive improved access to quality care,” Kevin Corbett said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mike Herndon said: “This is an important role for our agency, and we are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Valentine’s expertise serving in this role. I am excited to see how he and his team will bring about improvement in health care for Oklahomans.”
Valentine graduated from medical school at the University of Oklahoma. He is board-certified in family medicine and has a certificate of added qualification in hospice and palliative care.
Valentine began his new role Jan. 4.
ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
The OHCA administers two health programs for the state: SoonerCare and Insure Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, SoonerCare, works to improve the health of eligible Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are available. Eligible Oklahomans include low-income children, seniors, disabled people, people being treated for breast or cervical cancer and those seeking family planning services.
Insure Oklahoma helps eligible adults and small-business employees obtain health care coverage for themselves and their families.
More than 820,000 people are enrolled in OHCA programs.
For more information, visit www.okhca.org or www.insureoklahoma.org.