OSU Medical Authority Minutes

OSU Medical Authority and Trust

Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:15 PM CDT @ OSU Medical Center, 2nd Floor Boardroom, 744 W. 9th St., Tulsa

Notice of the meeting was given in writing to the Oklahoma Secretary of State more than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting, and the agenda of this meeting was posted at all entrances of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, 1111 West 17th Street; twenty-four (24) hours prior to such meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

Attendance

Present:
Members: Jay Helm, Michael Herndon, Brett Lessley, Tracy Poole, Johnny Stephens, Clay Bullard Guests: Rick Birkner, Eric Atkinson, Damon Baker, Adam Bradley, Melissa Cox, Mike Fields, Catherine Gann, Karlee Gholson, Amanda Hardt, Jami Longacre, Finny Mathew, Eric Polak, Jessica Russell, Terri Tinkler, Erica Woolf

Absent: Members: Barry Steichen

1. Call to order and establishment of a quorum (Presenters: Jay Helm)
   • The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jay Helm at 1:15 PM. After a roll call, Jay Helm declared that a quorum of the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority was present for the meeting.
2. Discussion, consideration, and possible vote on the approval of minutes of the August 28, 2025, meeting (Presenters: Jay Helm)
   • File Name: Draft-OSU Medical Authority Minutes 8.28.2025.pdf.pdf
   • Motion: Motion to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2025, meeting.
     • Motion moved by Michael Herndon and motion seconded by Brett Lessley. Aye: Helm, Bullard, Poole, Herndon. Lessley, Stephens Nay: None Abstain: None
3. Discussion, consideration and possible vote to finalize the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Statement Audit and authorize the CEO to submit to the state (Guests: Becky Robins-Forvis Mazars)
   • The final report will be submitted to OMES and the State Auditor and Inspector's Office prior to 10/31/25
   • File Name: OSUMA 6-25 TCWG draft 10.16.25.pdf
   • File Name: OSUMA 6-25 FS draft 101725-1.pdf
   • Eric Polak informed this was discussed in the Finance Committee by Becky Robins from Forvis Mazars. There was discussion in the Finance Committee about OSUMA's distribution of funds to the Stillwater campus and those have all been approved in this committee. This was a draft so the final report will be distributed tomorrow. It was a clean report that was unmodified. It was recommended by the Finance Committee for approval.
   • Motion: Motion to finalize the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Statement Audit and authorize the CEO to submit to the state.
     • Motion moved by Johnny Stephens and motion seconded by Michael Herndon. Aye: Helm, Bullard, Poole, Herndon. Lessley, Stephens Nay: None Abstain: None
4. CEO's Report
   1. Financial Report (Presenters: Eric Polak)
      1. File Name: OSUMA SRD 9.30.25.pdf
      2. Eric Polak went over the YTD summary of revenue and expenses. He highlighted:
         • The Medicaid IME match payment has been paid.
         • The Stillwater passthrough cooperative agreement was passed at Board of Regents at their last meeting.
         • Expenditures on the Behavioral Health Workforce grants were presented.
         • The Medical Authority has the obligation to certify to the Healthcare Authority that the Level 1 trauma partner selected by the University and the Trust for the Emergency Medicine revolving fund meets the requirements of the statute that was passed last year. Administration is working with Saint Francis on the academic affiliation agreement between the Authority, Trust, University, and Saint Francis. This would authorize the certification of Saint Francis meeting the needs that were laid out in statute.
   2. Update on Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center (Presenters: Eric Polak, Guests: Rick
      Birkner)
      1. File Name: Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center Update.docx
      2. Eric Polak introduced Rick Birkner who is the CEO of Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health who will be operating the Oklahoma Psychiatric Center when it opens. The total budget is now $89,677,594.00 for construction and design. It does not include furniture, fixtures and equipment which is being procured directly by ODMHSAS. Substantial completion is set for January 22, 2027 and final completion is now February 12, 2027.
         Mr. Birkner addressed the Board and gave the background on new internal operations at TCBH. Joint Commission survey window opens in December of this year and closes May of 2026. Operations will increase from 56 to 106 beds and a new service offering will be the 16 chairs of urgent recovery. Key goals include improving the patient care and residency training environment by working with OSU faculty across multiple departments including psychiatry, internal medicine and emergency medicine.
   3. Legislative Update (Presenters: Jessica Russell)
      1. Jessica Russell gave an update that the deadline to submit the Rural Health Transformation Fund related to the Big Beautiful Bill. She will continue to track the results of interims studies and any bill filings that have a potential impact to the agency.
5. Information Only
   • File Name: Saint Francis Level 1 Trauma Press Release.pdf
6. Discussion, consideration and possible vote to approve the meeting schedule for calendar year 2026 - Chairman Helm
   
   • File Name: OSUMA CY 2026 meetings.pdf
     
   • Motion: Motion to approve the meeting schedule for calendar year 2026 with changes that the Finance meetings will start at 12:00pm the Authority meeting will start at 1:00pm and the Trust meeting will start at 1:15pm.
     
     • Motion moved by Johnny Stephens and motion seconded by Brett Lessley. Aye: Helm, Bullard, Poole, Herndon. Lessley, Stephens Nay: None Abstain: None
       
7. Announcements (Presenters: Jay Helm)
   
   1. Next regularly scheduled meeting of the Authority is December 11, 2025, at OSU Medical Center, 744 W. 9th treet, Tulsa
      
      • This will be changed to 1:00pm
        
8. Motion and Vote for Adjournment (Presenters: Jay Helm)
   
   • Motion: Motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:41 Р.M.
     
     • Motion moved by Johnny Stephens and motion seconded by Brett Lessley. Aye: Helm, Bullard, Poole, Herndon. Lessley, Stephens Nay: None Abstain: None
       

Minutes signed off by Oklahoma State University Medical Authority Secretary, Michael Herndon.

If you would like a copy of these minutes, please reach out to Terri Tinkler at osuma@okstate.edu.