OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – A new nonprofit initiative, Oklahomans Partner for Health, is stepping into the political and public policy arena with a mission to lift Oklahoma out of the basement in national health rankings.
Former Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat started the organization in January. It aims to move the state from 47th in health outcomes to 35th by the year 2035.
“Somehow, we’ve grown numb to being ranked 47th in healthcare. That has to change,” said Treat. “The vision of this is to try to get us to 35th in those health care rankings by 2035. Admittedly, it’s an ambitious goal, but if we don’t set an ambitious goal, we’ll stay mired at 47th or 48th.”
The plan, still in its formative stages, involves building a focused, long-term roadmap. Leaders are currently identifying three to five critical areas to target in the first year, with broader goals laid out in five- and ten-year increments. While not claiming to be health experts, the group’s leadership brings deep experience in public policy, with an emphasis on building coalitions and enacting lasting legislative change.
While its origins are rooted in a collaboration between Tim Pierson and healthcare provider INTEGRIS, the coalition supporting the project extends well beyond the healthcare industry.
“The vast majority of our members aren’t in healthcare,” said Treat. “But they recognize that poor health outcomes impact everything—from workforce productivity to quality of life.”
Always the savvy political tactician and attorney, Treat founded the group as a 501(c)(4) so that it has legal flexibility to engage in policy activity without risking its nonprofit status.
Treat said connection to the business community is key. With absenteeism and low productivity tied to chronic health conditions like diabetes and hypertension, the initiative is drawing strong interest from chambers of commerce and employers concerned with employee wellness and retention.
“In the legislature, I worked on generational reforms in education and healthcare that didn’t always make headlines,” the initiative’s director said. “But the goal here is to be in it for the long haul. If we don’t aim high, we’ll stay stuck at 47th.”
He added that although many organizations already advocate for specific healthcare professions—doctors, nurses, hospitals, therapists—what’s been missing is a unified effort focused on statewide health outcomes. This new organization intends to fill that void.
As the organization lays the groundwork for its ambitious mission, it is building partnerships across sectors, including state business leaders and public officials. Treat called it a “mission-driven, faith-guided” path that he hadn’t planned to take after leaving public office, but one he now feels deeply called to.
“This isn’t just about policy,” he said. “It’s about loving our neighbors and creating a future where our kids can thrive in a healthier Oklahoma.”
