Oklahoma ranks near the bottom when it comes to the health of women and their babies, according to a United Healthcare Foundation report.
Experts at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City said a lack of health care options in small communities is contributing to Oklahoma's problems.
Meet Dr. Angela Hawkins from SSM Health
Hawkins was born and raised in Oklahoma, graduated from Oklahoma City University with a medical degree, and completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Hawkins is an obstetrician-gynecologist and chair of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of OBG-YNs surveyed 258 Oklahoma OBG-YNs. More than half said they were considering leaving Oklahoma because of abortion regulations.
Oklahoma health crisis
“I think this is a scary time, but there is also hope,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins advocates for policies that protect women and their children. She said that future life depends on changes made today.
The United Health Foundation revealed that Oklahoma ranks 47th in women's health. Multiple factors contribute to this ranking. Hawkins said 54 of Oklahoma's 77 counties have limited or no health care options.
“Their county may not have access or may only have one hospital,” Hawkins said. “There's a lot of work to do to improve this.”
Laws and restrictions hinder doctors' actions
Hawkins is vice chair of the Oklahoma Maternal Mortality Review Board, which surveyed 258 obstetricians and gynecologists in Oklahoma. More than half said they were considering leaving Oklahoma because of abortion regulations.
States with conservative legislatures across the country are seeing a mass exodus of maternal health professionals fearing legal repercussions for their medical decisions.
“Seventy-nine percent of these physicians felt they could no longer practice true evidence-based medicine,” Hawkins said.
lack of access to insurance
“We've been going back and forth between second and third in the country when it comes to access to insurance,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins said many women are uninsured and their health conditions are not managed before pregnancy.
“That makes their pregnancies more dangerous,” Hawkins says.
Hawkins said rural medical centers also rely on insured patients because government-funded Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates are lower than private insurance.
“It's hard to keep the door open,” Hawkins said.
Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion
Oklahoma joins more than 35 other states in expanding Medicaid eligibility in 2021.
“A big part (of the solution) is money,” Hawkins said.
Investing in healthcare workers
Hawkins said the state needs to prioritize improvements and incentives for rural health centers. She said this is an investment in doctors taking care of their neighbors.
“What I love about going to work is just taking care of patients,” Hawkins said. “Fortunately, I love my job and I love my patients, so it's easy.”
Hawkins said he is trying to keep Oklahoma's rural residency program alive. Advocates want to keep future doctors in these fields. They are working to secure funding for that.
Other advocates point to increasing telemedicine and web-based options for patients that could improve access to health care in rural areas.
