2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-3424.1. Oklahoma Rural Health Policy and Research Center - Mission.

A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Rural Health Policy and Research Center at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

B. 1. The mission of the Oklahoma Rural Health Policy and Research Center shall be to:

a.improve rural health care delivery in Oklahoma through the coordination of rural medical education, telemedicine, research, and health care policy, and

b.establish a process for the following types of hospitals to request designation as a rural health care delivery system through the Oklahoma Rural Health Policy and Research Center:

(1)a rural hospital located in a metropolitan statistical area, and

(2)a hospital located in an administrative area that is administratively designated as urban or nonrural.

2. A hospital located in a metropolitan statistical area or an area administratively designated as urban or nonrural that requests designation as a rural health care delivery system shall meet at least two of the following criteria:

a.be located in a county with a population density of less than two hundred twenty-five (225) persons per square mile of land area,

b.be located in a county with a municipality of twenty-five thousand (25,000) persons or fewer, excluding the major city designated as urban or nonrural, or

c.be the only hospital located in a county.

Added by Laws 2001, c. 230, § 3, eff. July 1, 2001. Amended by Laws 2005, c. 143, § 1, emerg. eff. May 5, 2005.