Oklahoma lawmaker to receive Public Health Innovator Award

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma's commissioner of health plans to present the state's Public Health Innovator Award to a state lawmaker who is also a physician.

Rep. Doug Cox of Grove will receive the award on Wednesday at the Oklahoma Turning Point Conference and Policy Day in Norman.

Oklahoma's health commissioner, Dr. Terry Cline, said Monday he will present the award to Cox for his continued efforts to create a better state of health in Oklahoma.

Cline says Cox has been one of the state's strongest voices on public health and health care policy since he was elected in 2004. He has worked to improve the quality of health care for Oklahomans and to create new opportunities for future generations.

Among other things, Cox helped lead a comprehensive study on improving Oklahoma's Medicaid system.