Oklahoma Rep Drives Six-State Health Reform for Better Access
TL/DR –
Rep. Ellyn Hefner (D-Oklahoma City) has become the co-chair of a nonpartisan health caucus, spanning six US states, that aims to draft policy related to healthcare affordability, accessibility, and workforce. The Heartland Health Caucus, which had its first in-person meeting at the Heartland Summit, includes representatives from Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee and will run a bill that will be tailored to each state. The caucus discussed policies related to rural care and access, maternal and infant health, underserved areas, and healthcare workforce shortages, with a particular focus on increasing the number of community healthcare workers.
Rep. Ellyn Hefner Co-Chairs Multistate Health Caucus to Improve Rural Care and Access
Ellyn Hefner, representative of Oklahoma City, has taken on the co-chair role for the nonpartisan Heartland Health Caucus, which spans six states and focuses on policies pertaining to health care affordability, access, and workforce. The caucus includes representatives from Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
During her first in-person meeting at the Heartland Summit, she engaged with other leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to strategize better health outcomes for the heartland states. The caucus aims to implement a bill tailored to each member state’s unique needs, with support from the nonprofit Heartland Forward in researching potential community improvements.
Policy discussions within the caucus centered around the ‘last mile’ of rural care and access, addressing health care workforce shortages, and enhancing medical care for underserved areas and populations. Areas such as infant and maternal health and care for those currently beyond the reach of health care services were also discussed.
One prominent area of interest was increasing the number of community health care workers. These individuals, who typically reside within the communities they serve, play a crucial role in reducing health disparities by delivering essential health information to underserved areas.
With a substantial background in health care, including serving on Oklahoma’s Developmental Disability Services advisory committee and as a health coordinator with the Oklahoma Family Network, Hefner expressed her pleasure at the speed with which consensus was achieved within the caucus.
She emphasized her strong connection to health care, shaped by her son’s experience with a brain injury and early intervention programs. The exchange of personal experiences and interactions with the health care system among caucus members facilitated vital discussions as they cooperatively developed policy.
Oklahoma will be the first state to benefit from the caucus’ policy work, with an initial bill deadline set for Dec. 8. This collaborative approach to health care policy demonstrates the potential for multistate efforts to bring about meaningful change within local communities.
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