Stitt Selects New Health Care Authority Director
Gov. Kevin Stitt this week selected Kevin Corbett as the new director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA).
Corbett previously served as the Interim Chief Financial Officer at Lagoon Water Solutions. Prior to this, Corbett served as a senior partner and Risk Advisory practice leader with Ernst & Young, retiring in 2017 with over 38 years of service. During his career, Corbett advised some of the largest companies in the U.S. and abroad, gaining extensive experience in a wide array of corporate matters, including public offerings, merger and acquisitions, debt restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, risk management, and transformational change.
Corbett is a graduate of Oklahoma State University (BS in Accounting) and the executive management program at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Corbett has served on the board of several civic organizations in Oklahoma and Texas, including Sunbeam Family Services, Junior Achievement, United Way, and Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Governors. Corbett is a CPA licensed in Oklahoma and Texas and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
According to Gov. Stitt, "Kevin Corbett’s financial expertise and strong organizational leadership will serve the Health Care Authority and the State of Oklahoma well. Corbett will bring his wealth of experience in accounting and consulting to ensure OHCA’s $6 billion budget is being delivered on target and to effectively partner with other state agencies to improve care for the most vulnerable in our state. I look forward to working with Corbett in order to achieve Top Ten outcomes in Oklahoma."
OHCA administers two health programs for the state: Soonercare, Oklahoma's Medicaid program that works to improve the health of qualified Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are available, and Insure Oklahoma, which assists qualifying adults and small business employees in obtaining health care coverage for themselves and their families.
Corbett succeeds Becky Pasternik-Ikard, who announced her retirement in July. Corbett will begin leading OHCA on August 15; his appointment will require Senate confirmation in the 2020 legislative session.
Final FY 2019 Revenues Come In 5.5% Above Estimate
The Oklahoma Office of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES)
announced yesterday
that total collections for the 2019 fiscal year were $6.86 billion and came in at $354.6 million, or 5.5%, above the 2019 fiscal year estimate.
"Oklahoma’s economy continues to grow at a moderate pace and our Commerce Department is hitting significant milestones in job recruitment. We are also actively monitoring the effects of a drastic decline in rig count and other economic factors that give risk to a slowdown which could impact state revenue in the near future," said Gov. Kevin Stitt.
According to the OMES release, that $6.86 billion is the largest deposit the state has made into the General Revenue Fund. While all major tax categories exceeded the estimate for the fiscal year, total collections from sales tax came in at 1.4% below the estimate.
"This fiscal year has certainly been better than others the state has seen, but next year will most likely present some challenges," said John Budd, director of OMES. "With a slowing global economy and fluctuation in the energy sector, we will need to keep our focus on leveling out the boom-bust cycle the state has been on for decades. By making fiscally responsible decisions now, we can serve the state well in the future."
NewsOK Photo Gallery: Oklahoma Capitol Restoration Ramps Up
If you haven't been up to 23rd and Lincoln in a bit, check out
this photo gallery
from NewsOK highlighting the restoration project.