Welcome to the Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP podcast. In this episode we take a deep dive into the EHR Expansion Initiative—the foundational $44.88 million, multi-year investment in certified electronic health records that the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority (OHCA) and the Oklahoma State Health Information Network Exchange (OKSHINE) are coordinating to close the state’s rural digital divide.

Topics covered include the initiative’s goals and timeline (FY2026–FY2031), the targeted first cohort of 40 rural facilities (three hospitals, 20 FQHCs, eight community behavioral health clinics, two substance abuse centers, and seven rural health clinics), and the key requirement that all subsidized systems connect to the statewide MyHealth HIE. We explain why EHRs are the “concrete foundation” for every other RHTP pillar—HIE interoperability, data & analytics, the $65.75M technology cooperative, remote patient monitoring, and maternal health programs—and how those projects depend on connected EHR endpoints to deliver real value.

The episode details the operational design and funding structure—equipment and infrastructure (~$20,000 per site), tiered implementation support (up to ~$1.5M for hospitals, ~$160k for small clinic rollouts), negotiated state-level group licensing to reduce costs, deliverables-based contractor payments, and mandatory HIE participation to prevent new data silos. We review measurable problems this initiative addresses (e.g., up to 97% of rural health clinics disconnected from the HIE, duplicate testing rates of ~20%, and critical access hospitals operating on median margins as low as -16%) and the assumptions and risks that drive sustainability concerns.

Key execution milestones and performance targets are explained: Stage Zero assessment and vendor selection in FY26; a high-visibility target to reach 66% EHR utilization among rural providers by the end of FY2028; and full transition to provider-assumed costs by FY2031. The episode also covers workforce and change management strategies (comprehensive training, peer-to-peer learning community), governance and accountability measures (quarterly monitoring, utilization and satisfaction metrics, >55% provider satisfaction goal), and the respectful coordination approach for tribal health systems.

Listeners will hear practical takeaways for rural providers and health leaders: why early participation is advantageous, what success looks like on the ground, how connected EHRs reduce waste and improve care continuity, and why this initiative is framed as a systems transformation (not a one-time subsidy). Featuring insights from OHCA and OKSHINE initiatives, this episode explains what’s at stake—and what it will take—to make Oklahoma’s rural health transformation work.

Listeners are invited to join the Oklahoma Rise 25 in 25 RHTP Task Force at Rise25in25.org or email info@rise25in25.org for more information. The Oklahoma Rise 25 and 25 RHTP Forum is produced and directed by Dr. Keley John Booth, MD.