Correction
This story incorrectly reported the requirements for participation in the Insure Oklahoma program. To be eligible for Insure Oklahoma, an individual’s income cannot exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

OKLAHOMA CITY — It has often flown under the radar since its inception four years ago, but Insure Oklahoma may soon become a household name in parts of Tulsa.

Oklahoma Health Care Authority officials say they will start working with community leaders to try to identify eligible clients and streamline the enrollment process in the state's insurance premium assistance program.

The goal is to sign up thousands of low-income, uninsured residents, which officials say would help address the city's uncompensated health-care problem. Officials say the program has room to expand by about 24,000 slots.

"It's our hope that it will buy long-term security and take pressure off of all the Tulsa-area hospitals," State Treasurer Scott Meacham said.

The concept was a key piece in an agreement reached in recent weeks between state and local negotiators to transfer operation of the OSU Medical Center and its residency program to St. John Health System.

Under the arrangement, the state will make available $51 million per year in federal and state funding under its Medicaid and Insure Oklahoma programs to residents of Tulsa. The goal is to reduce the level of uncompensated care at OSUMC.

Point-of-sale sign-ups: Coverage will be offered through a "point-of-sale" sign-up at the hospital and other locations.

Pending legislative approval of a $48 million subsidy package, the hospital could change hands as early as March.

Nico Gomez, spokesman for the Health Care Authority, said the agency already is looking at a training concept that will empower health-care providers to sign up uninsured patients when they seek treatment.

It will mark a departure in how Insure Oklahoma's enrollment process has worked and could serve as a national blueprint for how to deliver more affordable health care, state officials say.

"I like the policy of having the government assist people in getting insurance, but it's been cumbersome to get people enrolled," Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, said.

About Insure Oklahoma: Facing one of the highest per-capita uninsured rates in the nation, Oklahoma lawmakers approved the program in 2004 in an attempt to help small businesses provide health coverage for their low- and middle-income employees.

Until now, Insure Oklahoma has focused primarily on providing insurance premium assistance for Oklahoma businesses that have 50 or fewer employees. About 3,600 businesses with about 10,600 enrollees participate.

Another 5,200 Oklahomans whose income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level are covered under an individual plan.

Insure Oklahoma offers 274 health-care options through 20 participating insurance companies.

Funded through a combination of tobacco tax revenue and federal funds, Insure Oklahoma has taken in $32,957,179 and spent $11,193,457 through the first four months of the current fiscal year.

The average premium cost to individuals is $37.50 per month.

Kaiser commitment: Under the Tulsa plan, an individual's share of the insurance premium may be underwritten by the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

The foundation has made up to a $20 million commitment to address the indigent care problem in Tulsa as part of the overall agreement between the state, the city and local hospitals.

"If that's what it will take to maximize participation, we won't shy away from it," said Ken Levit, executive director of the foundation.

Levit said the foundation also is considering a voucher program and financially backing an effort by nonprofit organizations to sign up eligible participants.

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said Tulsa will now serve as a test case to see how effective Insure Oklahoma can be.

Gomez said the authority's outreach effort in Tulsa won't require any rule changes.

The authority, he said, already was in the process of asking for federal approval to increase the income limits in Insure Oklahoma to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. It is also seeking to increase the number of employees that a business can have from 50 to 250.

Details of Tulsa hospital agreement