News Release
July 17, 2014
OHCA Contacts: Jo Kilgore - (405) 522-7474, Jennie Melendez - (405) 522-7404
OHCA Director Receives Top Honor for Patient Advocacy
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) congratulates SoonerCare Provider Services Director Melody Anthony for being named the 2014 Patient Advocate of the Year by the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP). Ms. Anthony is honored for her “outstanding commitment” and for promoting the specialty of Family Medicine for the benefit of her fellow Oklahomans.
"Melody's trusted and capable work with our medical professionals helps to ensure that SoonerCare members receive the best care possible," said CEO Nico Gomez. "She is a valuable part of the OHCA team, and we couldn't be more pleased that she has received such a distinguished honor from the very people she works so tirelessly to serve."
Melody Anthony has more than 20 years of experience in health care, both in the private and public sectors. As director of Provider Services for OHCA, Ms. Anthony is responsible for provider recruitment, contracting, retention, claims resolution, compliance, policy education and development for the SoonerCare program (Oklahoma Medicaid). Additionally, Ms. Anthony is a key member of OHCA’s Medical Home Health Access Network team and she is agency lead for the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative through the Innovation Center at the national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (the CPC initiative is a multi-payer initiative fostering collaboration between public and private health care payers to strengthen primary care). Ms. Anthony holds a Master’s of Science in Management.
Ms. Anthony was nominated as Patient Advocate of the Year by members of the OAFP and said she felt extremely humbled and honored to be selected. Nominators referred to her as the “mother of the patient-centered medical home,” the “’go to’ person for SoonerCare operational issues,” and “the ultimate patient advocate.”
“I’m very pleased that someone who works for the state Medicaid agency is recognized by a provider organization,” Anthony said. “I think it says a lot about OHCA’s commitment to the populations we serve and the providers who help us reach that commitment.”
Ms. Anthony received her award at OAFP’s 66th Annual Scientific Assembly on June 20.
About OHCA
Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, known as SoonerCare, is administered by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). SoonerCare works to improve the health outcomes of Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are responsive to the health care needs of our members. Qualifying Oklahomans include certain low-income children, seniors, the disabled, those being treated for breast or cervical cancer and those seeking family planning services. Insure Oklahoma assists qualifying adults and small business employees in obtaining health care coverage for themselves and their families. OHCA strives to educate and engage our current 805,779 members regarding personal responsibilities for their health services utilization, behaviors, and outcomes in partnership with a state-wide network of 39,726 providers. For more information, visit www.okhca.org.
About OAFP
The OAFP, a non-profit 501(c)(6), was founded in 1948 and has been providing continuing medical education to its members ever since. The OAFP launched the Choice CME Program in 2000 and has provided Oklahoma physicians with over 1100 Prescribed CME credits since that program's inception. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has accredited the OAFP as a continuing education provider.
The OAFP Annual Scientific Assembly provides continuing medical education (CME) to primary care physicians. Health care providers throughout the state, including the 1200 members of the OAFP, general practitioners, general internists, pediatricians, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and any other health care provider who manages patients, are invited to attend this CME event. The benefits of this meeting are to heighten awareness and education in various disease states, as well as present new and current treatment options, and preventive measures thereby enhancing patient care in the community.
