It’s no secret that Oklahoma has a long and colorful history.
Since long before our state’s birth, the storytellers gathered around the campfire and spent hours telling the rest of us about our past and the possibilities for our future.
That idea always impressed me.
And it’s time to refocus our efforts.
It was just about two weeks ago when the stories began to surface about the Oklahoma Health Care Association. Despite meetings with the governor and legislative leaders, which indicated the OHCA budget was a done deal, the man in charge of the OHCA began spinning the other way.
Before it was said and done, Clay Bullard, the leader of the OHCA, began painting a dark picture of a $218 million budget hole, spreading fear across the state.
Oklahoma Hospital Association President Rick Rasmussen said the $218 million reduction to the direct payment program “comes as a complete shock in light of the statements made regarding passage of the OHCA budget.”
“We request the agency give our letter immediate consideration on behalf of the significant impact such a reduction will have on hospitals across the state,” Rasmussen wrote in an email to Bullard.
Hospitals across the state began to worry just how much of a cut they could stand. State lawmakers rushed to reexamine the plan and talk to all parties involved.
The problem: bad communication skills.
By the end, Bullard was heavily criticized for the agency’s communication efforts when no real cut was actually planned.
But the panic was there.
Eventually, the crisis faded and, at the same time, Bullard announced he would be leaving the post he’d served for less than a year.
Governor Stitt moved quickly.
On July 15, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a media statement announcing that Aaron Morris would become the next interim director of OHCA. Morris has served as the state’s chief financial officer since 2024 and prior to that had served as CFO for the OCHA.
Stitt’s announcement immediately calmed any remaining turmoil.
For his part, Morris was open. He told Southwest Ledger that one of his first priorities was to improve communication efforts between the OHCA and other health care entities.
A smart move. Instead of panic about money among the state’s various health care agencies, Morris has reached out and offered to listen and talk.
Sure, there may be other issues that surface but so far, Morris has done the right thing. He’s followed the path of many previous state leaders who learned that a good conversation is one of the first steps in solving any state problem.
This November, Oklahomans will see big changes in state government with new leaders. Here’s hoping the OHCA continues to follow the new path it set for itself.
Because good communication is more valuable than gold. ___
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews.com.