Mulready Minutes

Ep 29: Mental Heath Care & Parity

In this episode, Commissioner Mulready sits down with mental health reform advocate Cathy Costello to discuss mental health care, parity and access to care in Oklahoma.

Cathy, originally from Overland Park, Kansas, pursued her passion for classical music and opera, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas, where she met her husband, Mark Costello. They settled in Edmond, Oklahoma, raising five children while working in education and building small businesses together. Mark's political career as the Oklahoma State Labor Commissioner was supported by Cathy until his tragic death in 2015, when their oldest son, battling schizoaffective disorder, fatally stabbed Mark. Since then, Cathy has become a vocal advocate for mental health reform, testifying before senate committees and championing legislation like the Labor Commissioner Mark Costello Act. She travels nationwide sharing her story and serves on numerous mental health advocacy boards, aiming to prevent similar tragedies and support the millions affected by mental illness in America.

Ep 28: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Commissioner Mulready visits with Katy Spangler, Principal at Spangler Strategies, delving into the present landscape of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).  Discussion includes intended applications and benefits of an HSA.

Katy Spangler
Katy Spangler, Principal at Spangler Strategies, is a seasoned expert in health care policy, advocacy and coalition building.  She serves as Senior Advisor to the American Benefits Council and the Alliance to Fight the 40, dedicated to safeguarding employer-provided health coverage.  With extensive experience in senior health policy roles and co-founding VBID Health, Katy is widely respected for her insights and expertise.

Ep 27: Oklahoma Insurance Rates and Consumer Awareness

Insurance prices are soaring and homeowners in states prone to natural disasters have been hit the hardest. In this episode, Commissioner Mulready sits down with Kayla Blount, Principal/Advisor at 317 Insurance Advisors to discuss Oklahoma rates and what the consumer can do about it.

Kayla Blount, Principal/Advisor at 317 Insurance Advisors, began her insurance journey at Liberty Mutual, excelling and earning awards through dedication. In July 2019, she boldly became the owner of 317 Insurance Advisors, emphasizing personalized coverage tailored to each client's needs, guided by values rooted in faith.

Ep 26: Oklahoma Mental Health Care and Coverage

Over 50 million Americans have a mental illness, but more than half (55%) of adults with a mental illness don’t receive treatment. Oklahoma ranks 38th in mental health care. In this episode, Commissioner Mulready sits down with Zack Stoycoff, Executive Director, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, to discuss where we stand in Oklahoma with Mental Health Care and Coverage.

With over a decade of dedicated experience delving into public policy in Oklahoma, Zack is a seasoned professional with a passion for advancing community well-being. In his role at Healthy Minds, he orchestrates a dedicated team, overseeing comprehensive data analysis, examining best practices, and assessing community needs. This invaluable work informs, and shapes state and local policy dialogues related to mental health and substance use disorders.

Ep. 25: 2024 Medicare and the Healthcare Marketplace Open Enrollment

These two podcast topics should provide valuable information for listeners looking to make informed decisions during Medicare Open Enrollment and Healthcare Marketplace Open Enrollment for 2024.

Part One – Guest Sung Kang with HealthMarkets in Oklahoma City talks about Open Enrollment and the Healthcare Marketplace in Oklahoma.

Sung Kang, born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, comes from a family deeply rooted in martial arts. His family runs Kang's TaeKwon-Do, one of the country's oldest martial arts schools, celebrating its 50th year.

Sung Kang is no stranger to success. He's a former Oklahoma State and US National Champion and even won a Silver Medal at the 1989 US Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City. After training with elite athletes at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, he returned to Tulsa and opened his TaeKwon-Do School. There, he inspired countless students to be their best, nurturing their minds, bodies, and spirits.

Today, Sung Kang is an Executive Sales Leader at HealthMarkets in Oklahoma City, where he leads a team of 60 agents at OKC HealthMarkets Group. He's also a licensed insurance agent, specializing in helping retirees transition to Medicare for a secure healthcare future.

Part Two – Guest Ray Walker, Divisional Director for MAP at OID talks about Medicare Open Enrollment

Ray Walker is the Divisional Director for the Medicare Assistance Program at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare and insurance industry, Mr. Walker is a seasoned expert in his field.

Mr. Walker's commitment to enhancing healthcare access and understanding is exemplified by his role on the Advisory Committee to the State Council on Aging and his recent completion of his second term on the SHIP Steering Committee, where he served as the vice-chair. He has also been an integral part of the Leadership Council for the MIPPA Grant Program. Ray Walker is dedicated to helping individuals navigate the intricacies of Medicare and is a valuable resource for both his local community and the broader healthcare landscape.

Ep 24: Todd Russ, State Treasurer of Oklahoma

Episode 24: In this episode, Commissioner Mulready visits with Todd Russ, the 20^th State Treasurer of Oklahoma.  They delve into his background, achievements, and the ways in which he supports and champions the interests of Oklahoma

Todd Russ – With deep roots in Western Oklahoma, Todd’s journey began with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. His educational background includes specialized training in Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk Analysis from the University of Colorado Graduate School of Banking. Todd’s career spans over 30 years in the banking sector but his service to the community doesn’t end there. He represented District 55 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for six terms (2010-2022), notably serving as Chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Bonus Episode: Oklahoma Captive Insurance Landscape

In this podcast episode, Commissioner Mulready engages in a brief discussion with Steve Kinion, the Director of Captive Insurance at OID. Tune in as Steve provides an insightful overview of the present captive insurance landscape in the state of Oklahoma. The Commissioner's captive initiative has reported a remarkable 25% increase in the number of captive insurers during the period spanning from January 1 to September 30, 2023.

Steve Kinion – Kinion was Delaware’s captive regulator for more than 13 years before joining the Oklahoma Insurance Department. He originally joined OID in 1995 as counsel to the Oklahoma state board for property and casualty rates and assistant general counsel. Captive Review magazine has named him multiple times to its global “Power 50” listing the 50 most influential figures in the global captive insurance industry. He holds the Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) designation which is the highest professional designation for captive insurance.

Ep 22: The Relaunch of the Oklahoma Captive Insurance Association

Episode 22: In this episode Commissioner Mulready visits with Heather McClure, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer at Helio Risk. Discussion includes the relaunched Oklahoma Captive Association along with how the Captive Insurance market is growing.

Heather McClure General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer Heather McClure, JD, LLM, has decades of experience managing client risk inside law firms and organizations, overseeing risk financing, risk management, insurance procurement, captive operations, and claims and litigation.

Ep 23: OID’s Consumer Assistance/Claims Division

In this episode, Commissioner Mulready speaks with Donna Dorr, the Director of Consumer Assistance/Claims, and Jason Johnston, the Senior Claims Processor/Reviewer. The discussion delves into the role and functions of the Consumer Assistance/Claims Division, shedding light on their vital support for Oklahoma's consumers dealing with insurance-related concerns. This division’s role includes addressing insurance inquiries, probing into grievances against insurance companies, and facilitating the resolution of disputes with insurance providers.

Bonus Episode: 2023 OID Legislative Update

In this episode Commissioner Mulready visits with, Ashley Scott, Government & Community Affairs Director/Director of PBM Compliance and Enforcement at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. They will examine statutes and rules that were passed during the 2023 legislative session related to the OID.

Ms. Scott joined OID in June of 2020 as the Government and Community Affairs Director. She started her career working over 10 years with the House of Representatives and then moved to the Oklahoma State Department of Health as their legislative liaison before joining OID.