Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-3240.3: Community Hospitals Authority - Purpose, establishment

and duties - Indigent care services - Appropriation - Reimbursement.

A. The Oklahoma Legislature finds that care of medically

indigent persons and the needs of the Oklahoma State University

Center for Health Sciences and the University of Oklahoma College of

Medicine (Tulsa) will be enhanced through the establishment of the

Community Hospitals Authority. The purpose of the Community

Hospitals Authority is to provide maximum utilization and efficient

administration in order to deliver health care services to medically

indigent persons and to promote the teaching and training of

physicians.

B. The Community Hospitals Authority shall:

1. Support the missions of the Oklahoma State University Center

for Health Sciences and the University of Oklahoma College of

Medicine (Tulsa) with regard to:

a. teaching and training for medical students,

b. conducting medical and biomedical research, and

c. medical care for indigent and nonindigent populations;

2. Act as a vehicle for securing funding that is in addition to

existing state Medicaid Program appropriated funding for education

and indigent care and graduate medical education; provided, however,

under no circumstance shall funds secured pursuant to this provision

be used to supplant such existing state Medicaid Program

appropriated funding; and

3. Coordinate the delivery and efficiency of medical service

across Northeast Oklahoma including, but not limited to, all

counties located totally or partly in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area.

C. The Authority may contract for indigent care services with

participating health care systems.

D. In the event the Legislature enacts a statewide program to

reimburse hospitals for the cost, or a portion thereof, of providing

indigent health care, the Legislature shall ensure that such

reimbursement shall be made to all hospitals providing indigent care

within the state.