Category Archives: State

Insurance Dept. Medicare Webinars

By Staff Report

The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s (OID) Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) will continue its free Medicare Mondays webinar series in 2026, offering live and on-demand education for Oklahomans navigating Medicare.

The webinars, which take place at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of each month, provide unbiased information on essential Medicare topics for current enrollees and those approaching eligibility. Since launching in 2023, Medicare Mondays have helped hundreds better understand their Medicare options.

Continue reading →

We Can’t Gamble with Medicare Advantage

By Monica Collison

In rural Oklahoma, we aren’t always involved in abstract policy debates, even the ones that directly impact us. Decisions made in Washington show up fast, and they show up close to home. When access to health care weakens, that harms patients, families, caregivers, and entire communities.

That reality should be front and center for lawmakers as we approach the midterm elections. Seniors are one of the largest, most reliable voting groups in the country. For many of them, Medicare Advantage is more than just another talking point for candidates to hit on the campaign trail. It’s the coverage and care they depend on every day.

Continue reading →

Grant to Expand Virtual Dermatology

By Staff Report

SkinCheck, an Oklahoma-founded digital health startup, announced yesterday it has been awarded $250,000 in non-dilutive funding through the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) Industry Innovation Program. The award will be distributed over a two-year period and will support applied research, clinical validation, and expanded access to virtual dermatology services across Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma faces some of the longest dermatology wait times in the country, leaving rural and underserved communities without timely access to potentially life-saving skin cancer screenings,” said Daniel Marques, SkinCheck Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer. “Expanding Dermatology Access for Underserved Communities in Oklahoma is not just the title of our proposal. It is central to our mission.”

Continue reading →

Our Culture of Financial Mismanagement

By David Arnett

Oklahoma Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd CPA, on the FY 2023 Federal Single Audit

The U.S. national debt is $39 trillion – more than double what it was around 2015 when Oklahoma’s Dr. Tom Coburn sounded warnings at $18 trillion. The Federal government is clawing money back from states for mismanagement, waste and abuse of funds so how much is Oklahoma at risk in “questioned costs?”

Auditor Cindy Byrd, January 8, Tulsa, Photo: Arnett
Continue reading →

Proposed Jewish School Questioned

By David Arnett

In a press release yesterday, The Mizel Jewish Community Day School questions a proposal for a Jewish Charter School writing, “Jewish education flourishes when it is built in partnership with the community it intends to serve. The Jewish community of Oklahoma is deeply committed to Jewish education and serving the needs of our community. Our local boards, organizations, and donors have invested heavily in our local Jewish educational system through a dedication to learning. This investment can be seen by the vibrant Mizel Jewish Community Day School in Tulsa and the plethora of offerings from our synagogues and communal organizations.”

Continue reading →