Oklahoma State Department of Health - Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program

Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program Nurse

In 2007, the Oklahoma Legislature requested and passed a measure to assist with increasing the number of Oklahoma health care providers offering their services at a free health clinic. Out of this legislation rules were promulgated by the Oklahoma State Board of Health to establish the Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Health Care Provider Program (OKVHCP). It is the mission of the Oklahoma Charitable Health Care Provider Program to provide state tort liability coverage to health care professionals in exchange for their service and participation in the nearly 200 free clinics operated in Oklahoma.

The Volunteer Charitable Health Care Provider Program allows health care providers who provide care to medically indigent persons at a free clinic, or specialty providers rendering care as a result of a referral from a free clinic, to be considered State employees for liability purposes under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act (OGTCA) and would be immune from personal liability for professional services when provided on behalf of the free clinic.

This program implements the rules resulting from Title 51 O.S. § 152.2, which:

Establish eligibility criteria for charitable health care providers and medically indigent persons,
Establish procedures for entering into and revoking contracts between the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Charitable health care provider and responsibilities and obligations pursuant to such contracts.
Eligible Providers: The definition of Charitable Health Care Provider includes any person or facility defined as a health care provider including medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, registered nurses, physician's assistants, pharmacists, optometrists, licensed practical nurses, chiropractors, podiatrists, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists and assistants, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, phlebotomists, and mental health technicians.
Providers must have a current Oklahoma licensure or certification.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OKLAHOMA VOLUNTEER CHARITABLE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PROGRAM:

Clinic Registration:

If you are a free clinic that does not bill for any third party reimbursement such as Medicaid, Medicare, etc. and assures patients that no payment or contribution is required for care, please go to the following site to register with the OKVHCP program. Upon registration, we will link you with a site so your health care providers wishing to be covered under the state tort insurance program can file an application for a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Health for this important coverage.

Clinic Registration Link

Provider Registration:

If you are a provider that volunteers in a free clinic that has already registered with the OKVHCP program or if you are a private practice provider who is currently taking referrals or is willing to accept referrals from a free clinic and agrees to provide care to that referred patient free of charge, please go to the following site to apply for a contract under our OKVHCP State Tort Insurance program.

Provider Application Link

Provider Renewal:

If you are a provider that volunteers in a free clinic who has already registered with the OKVHCP program you are required to renew your contract with The Oklahoma State Department of Health by June 30 of each year, please go to the following site to renew your contract under our OKVHCP State Tort Insurance program.

Provider Renewal Application Link

Patient referral from a free clinic:

If you are a free health care clinic and your providers wishes to make a referral to a sub specialist who will see the referred patient for free, please access the link below to utilize the attached referral form. The referring provider working in your clinic must have a current contract with the Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program (OKVCHP) to be covered under state tort liability act. Also, the healthcare specialist receiving your patient referral must have a current contract with OKVCHP to be covered under the state tort liability act. This does not prohibit your clinic from making referrals to any specialist you deem appropriate, but the provider will not be covered under the state tort liability act without having established a contract with OSDH for that purpose.

Referral Form Link

Contact Information:
Espaniola Bowen, Program Coordinator for OKVHCP
Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development
1000 NE 10th Street, Room 508
Oklahoma City 73117-1299
Phone: (405) 271-8427
Fax: (405) 271-1225
Email: OKVHCP@health.ok.gov

	OSDH Home > Community Health > Community Development Service > Primary Care & Rural Health Development > Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program
	email \| print Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program In 2007, the Oklahoma Legislature requested and passed a measure to assist with increasing the number of Oklahoma health care providers offering their services at a free health clinic. Out of this legislation rules were promulgated by the Oklahoma State Board of Health to establish the Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Health Care Provider Program (OKVHCP). It is the mission of the Oklahoma Charitable Health Care Provider Program to provide state tort liability coverage to health care professionals in exchange for their service and participation in the nearly 200 free clinics operated in Oklahoma. The Volunteer Charitable Health Care Provider Program allows health care providers who provide care to medically indigent persons at a free clinic, or specialty providers rendering care as a result of a referral from a free clinic, to be considered State employees for liability purposes under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act (OGTCA) and would be immune from personal liability for professional services when provided on behalf of the free clinic. This program implements the rules resulting from Title 51 O.S. § 152.2, which: Establish eligibility criteria for charitable health care providers and medically indigent persons, Establish procedures for entering into and revoking contracts between the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Charitable health care provider and responsibilities and obligations pursuant to such contracts. Eligible Providers: The definition of Charitable Health Care Provider includes any person or facility defined as a health care provider including medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, registered nurses, physician's assistants, pharmacists, optometrists, licensed practical nurses, chiropractors, podiatrists, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists and assistants, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, phlebotomists, and mental health technicians. Providers must have a current Oklahoma licensure or certification. HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OKLAHOMA VOLUNTEER CHARITABLE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PROGRAM: Clinic Registration: If you are a free clinic that does not bill for any third party reimbursement such as Medicaid, Medicare, etc. and assures patients that no payment or contribution is required for care, please go to the following site to register with the OKVHCP program. Upon registration, we will link you with a site so your health care providers wishing to be covered under the state tort insurance program can file an application for a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Health for this important coverage. Clinic Registration Link Provider Registration: If you are a provider that volunteers in a free clinic that has already registered with the OKVHCP program or if you are a private practice provider who is currently taking referrals or is willing to accept referrals from a free clinic and agrees to provide care to that referred patient free of charge, please go to the following site to apply for a contract under our OKVHCP State Tort Insurance program. Provider Application Link Provider Renewal: If you are a provider that volunteers in a free clinic who has already registered with the OKVHCP program you are required to renew your contract with The Oklahoma State Department of Health by June 30 of each year, please go to the following site to renew your contract under our OKVHCP State Tort Insurance program. Provider Renewal Application Link Patient referral from a free clinic: If you are a free health care clinic and your providers wishes to make a referral to a sub specialist who will see the referred patient for free, please access the link below to utilize the attached referral form. The referring provider working in your clinic must have a current contract with the Oklahoma Volunteer Charitable Healthcare Provider Program (OKVCHP) to be covered under state tort liability act. Also, the healthcare specialist receiving your patient referral must have a current contract with OKVCHP to be covered under the state tort liability act. This does not prohibit your clinic from making referrals to any specialist you deem appropriate, but the provider will not be covered under the state tort liability act without having established a contract with OSDH for that purpose. Referral Form Link Contact Information: Espaniola Bowen, Program Coordinator for OKVHCP Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development 1000 NE 10th Street, Room 508 Oklahoma City 73117-1299 Phone: (405) 271-8427 Fax: (405) 271-1225 Email: OKVHCP@health.ok.gov

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