Press Release
August 16, 2019
Media Contact:
Katelynn Burns, Sr. Public Information Representative
405-522-7266 | katelynn.burns@okhca.org
Zumwalt Joins OHCA as CCO
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Kevin Corbett has named Shelley Zumwalt chief of communications and strategic engagement. Zumwalt most recently served as the director of Public Affairs for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Zumwalt started her state service almost a decade ago as a budget analyst for the Health and Human Services cabinet before overseeing communications at OMES Employees Group Insurance Division, the administrators of HealthChoice. In addition to her service at OMES, Zumwalt also served in the Office of the Governor as public affairs director.
“There is no higher calling than helping those in need,” Zumwalt said. “I am thrilled to join the leadership team at OHCA in this new role and have the opportunity to serve some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens. I can tell from my interactions with agency staff that I am joining a dedicated and hard-working group who admirably perform their service to the state. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
Zumwalt earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma. She was selected to attend the OSU Executive Development Program for State Officials in 2018 and has been a featured speaker and moderator at state and national conferences on digital innovation in government communications as well as strategic planning in the public sector.
As chief of communications and strategic engagement, Zumwalt will provide oversight to multiple areas of the agency including strategic communication and public information, data governance and analytics, and legislative policy. She will work with OHCA leadership to strengthen engagement with agency stakeholders, customers and communities to improve health outcomes for the state.
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About the Oklahoma Health Care Authority
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) administers two health programs for the state. The first is SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. SoonerCare works to improve the health of qualified Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are available. Qualifying Oklahomans include certain low-income children, seniors, the disabled, those being treated for breast or cervical cancer and those seeking family planning services. The second program OHCA operates is Insure Oklahoma, which assists qualifying adults and small business employees in obtaining health care coverage for themselves and their families. Currently, there are 805,273 Oklahomans enrolled in OHCA’s programs. The agency contracts with a network of 52,414 providers. For more information, visit www.okhca.org or www.insureoklahoma.org
