TULSA Okla.
Ardent Health Systems has terminated the academic affiliation agreement between the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the OSU Medical Center, which is owned by Ardent.
The operational relationship between the hospital and the medical school will continue for two years under the terms of the agreement, Ardent announced Friday.
The company claims the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has withheld nearly $6.5 million in indirect medical education funds that it received from the state, which are federally mandated to be paid to providers to offset increased costs of medical care associated with teaching programs.
The hospital has long been used in teaching residents from the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.
James Hess, chief operating officer of OSU’s Center for Health Sciences, said last week the disputed money is part of an initial $20 million from the Legislature to the OSU Medical Authority for hospital improvements.
Ardent supported using the money for renovations when the authority voted on those projects in January, but Hess said the company now wants the money to go to operations because the hospital is having financial difficulties.
OSU’s governing board voted last week to have Attorney General Drew Edmondson represent OSU in the contract dispute.
Information from: Tulsa World, https://tulsaworld.com/
–Associated Press
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