OKC Health Watch: Behavioral Health Annex Move-In, VA Facility Upgrades, and SoonerCare Dental Rule Dispute

Oklahoma City-area health headlines this week centered on hospital capacity, facility upgrades, and how insurance rules can shape access to care. In a separate seasonal alert, local specialists also flagged unusually high tree-pollen levels that can worsen respiratory symptoms for some residents.

Behavioral health patients to begin moving to new OKC campus site

State mental health officials said they plan to start accepting patients next week at the Oklahoma City Behavioral Health Campus Annex in southwest Oklahoma City, as the first phase of renovations wraps up. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said it will begin transferring patients from Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman to the new campus at 2129 SW 59th St.

The Annex is expected to provide 32 inpatient beds. Officials said renovations to the Annex focused on technology upgrades and cost $1.3 million. The agency also described a larger, multi-phase plan using up to $60 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding by the end of 2026 to purchase and renovate multiple buildings, with a long-term goal of replacing inpatient services currently provided at Griffin Memorial.

Officials also emphasized the Annex is not open to public walk-ins and will not directly admit patients until the full campus is open.

VA Oklahoma City begins infrastructure upgrades

The VA Oklahoma City Health Care System announced it has begun infrastructure upgrades intended to support safe, effective patient care. The VA described the work as part of a broader, nationwide facilities modernization effort funded through the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program.

Local projects highlighted for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 include converting a respiratory unit to a step-down unit (phase 1), renovating a canteen kitchen, recapitalization of infrastructure, and exterior waterproofing and repairs.

SoonerCare dental policy proposal draws legal pushback

Attorney General Gentner Drummond directed the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to withdraw a proposed rule that would have added prior authorization requirements for complex tooth extractions for SoonerCare members. The Attorney General’s Office said the rulemaking process was defective under state administrative procedure requirements and raised concerns about how the final language differed from what the public had an opportunity to comment on.

Mercy Hospital OKC recognized in Newsweek hospital ranking

Mercy announced that Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City was included in Newsweek’s 2026 list of the World’s Best Hospitals. Mercy’s release said the ranking evaluates hospitals using multiple data sources, including expert recommendations, patient experience measures, and quality metrics.

Seasonal health alert: very high cedar and elm pollen

While no new city-specific infectious-disease exposure advisories surfaced in major Oklahoma City headlines over the past six days, the Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic reported a ‘very high alert’ day for cedar and elm pollen. The clinic said the levels reflected extreme exposure conditions for pollen-sensitive individuals.

Sources

https://oklahomavoice.com/briefs/mental-health-department-set-to-begin-transferring-patients-to-new-oklahoma-city-hospital-location/
https://www.va.gov/oklahoma-city-health-care/news-releases/va-oklahoma-city-hcs-upgrades-health-care-infrastructure/
https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/february/drummond-orders-ohca-to-withdraw-new-rule.html
https://www.mercy.net/newsroom/2026-02-25/Four_Mercy_Hospitals_Named_Among_Worlds_Best/
https://oklahomaallergy.com/news/vha-alert-2-26-26/