Oklahoma Secretary of Health

Last updated
Oklahoma
Secretary of Health
Seal of Oklahoma.svg
Great Seal of Oklahoma
Agency overview
Formed1986
Preceding agency
Headquarters120 N Robinson
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees4,651 (FY2020)
Annual budget$6.7 billion (FY2020)
Minister responsible
Child agencies

The Oklahoma secretary of health was a member of the Oklahoma governor's Cabinet. The secretary is appointed by the governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary served as the chief advisor to the governor on public health issues and needs.

Contents

The current secretary of health is Kevin Corbett, who was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt in 2020, following the departure of Jerome Loughridge. [1]

Overview

The secretary of health was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the public health and mental hygiene activities of the state government. The position was established, along with the Oklahoma governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986. [2] The Secretary advises the governor on public health policy and advises the state's public health agencies on new policy as directed by the governor. The secretary also provides the overarching management structure for the state's public health services in order to deliver improved public services while eliminating redundancies and reducing support costs in order to more effectively and efficiently run the agencies in a unified manner. As the state's chief public health official, the secretary oversees vaccinations, disease prevention, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and emergency health responses. The secretary also is responsible for regulation of the State health delivery system, overseeing state-managed public hospitals, health-related professional licensure, as well as overseeing the state's Medicaid program.

Oklahoma state law allows for Cabinet secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a state agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Health has also served as either the commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health or the commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. However, former secretary Loughridge did not share this role with either position.

Under the administration of Kevin Stitt, the cabinet position is labeled as the Secretary of Health and Mental Health, emphasizing its role in overseeing the Health Department and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. [1] In previous administrations, the position is consolidated with the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services into the position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services, as was the case under governors Frank Keating and Mary Fallin.

The secretary, unless filling an additional role which carries a greater salary, is entitled to annual pay of $85,000. Loughridge, however, did not take a salary.

Budget

The secretary of health oversees a budget for Fiscal Year 2020 of $6.7 billion. The budget authorization is broken down as follows:

AgencyFunding (in millions)Employees (in FTEs)
Health Services
Department of Health405.72,184
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services438.71,721
Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust51.925
Physician Manpower Training Commission5.56
SUBTOTAL901.83,936
Public Hospitals
University Hospital Authority121.10
OSU Medical Authority16.40
SUBTOTAL137.50
Medical Assistance
Health Care Authority5,619.3601
SUBTOTAL5,619.3601
Professional Licensure
Professional Licensing Boards17.5114
SUBTOTAL17.5114
TOTAL$6,676.14,651

Agencies overseen

The secretary of health oversees the following state entities:

List of secretaries

NameTook officeLeft office Governor served under
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Ken Lackey 19951997 Frank Keating
Jerry Regier 19972002
Howard Hendrick 20022003
Secretary of Health
Tom Adelson 20032004 Brad Henry
Terry Cline 20042006
Michael Crutcher 20062009
Terri L. White 20092011
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Terry Cline 20112017 Mary Fallin
Steven Buck 20172019
Secretary of Health and Mental Health
Jerome Loughridge 2019Present Kevin Stitt

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References

  1. 1 2 "Office of Governor | Kevin Stitt". www.governor.ok.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  2. ↑ "OCIS Document Index". www.oscn.net. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
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