<body><div>WILD ARTOklahoma Photos by Oklahoma Photographers<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3u9O7N_1FUz0Sid00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3u9O7N_1FUz0Sid00" width="600" height="398" ><figcaption>Sheryl McLain , Edmond</figcaption></figure><h2>Here’s the Stuff You Should Know</h2>Medicare’s Dementia Program Is Helping Oklahoma Families. Not Nearly Enough of Them.Sandi Hegeman was able to attend her son’s wedding because Medicare paid for someone to stay with her mother-in-law. That sentence captures both the promise and the limitation of the GUIDE program in Oklahoma.As Raynee Howell reported, the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience program is a Medicare trial model now in its third year, providing dementia patients and their caregivers with a care navigator, 24/7 hotline access, $2,500 in annual respite funding and a structured care plan. In Oklahoma, OU Health is the only in-person provider. As of mid-August, 128 patients were enrolled across 34 counties.Oklahoma has an estimated 71,000 people living with dementia and 135,000 family caregivers. The gap between need and enrollment is enormous, and it is growing. OU Health has a waitlist. Rural families struggle to access in-person care, pushing the program toward virtual options including PocketRN, a platform serving more than 50 Oklahoma patients through phone and video visits available around the clock.The program’s most significant structural limitation is its eligibility requirement. Patients must be enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A and B — excluding anyone on Medicare Advantage, which is roughly 60% of OU Health’s memory care patients, according to the program’s medical director.If the trial demonstrates improved outcomes and reduced caregiver burden — data both OU Health and PocketRN are actively collecting — it could become a permanent Medicare benefit. Providers say it should, but acknowledge that even full implementation will strain a state with too few geriatricians, neurologists and geriatric psychiatrists to meet demand.In the meantime, Hegeman’s mother-in-law, Gertrude De Cambra, celebrated her 80th birthday at the Memory Care Clinic. The family was there.More worth knowing: Lepak Charges DismissedSecretary of State Ben Lepak is no longer facing any charges tied to his August arrest outside an Edmond McDonald’s, where police cited him for public intoxication. [The Oklahoman ▲] [Oklahoma Voice] [Tulsa World ▲] [KWTV]The Edmond City Council called a special meeting for Sept. 28 to discuss the employment of the city attorney who dismissed the charges and the possible naming of an interim city attorney. [The Oklahoman ▲]Energy Secretary ResignsOklahoma Energy and Environmental Secretary Jeff Starling is stepping down from his cabinet position after losing his election for attorney general. Starling, 51, was appointed to direct Gov. Kevin Stitt’s cabinet as secretary of energy and environment in 2024. He’s a former litigation director for Devon Energy. [The Oklahoman ▲] [Oklahoma Voice] Williams CensuredThe Oklahoma House Rules Committee censured Rep. Danny Williams for disorderly behavior and recommended that the full House also publicly reprimand him. An investigation substantiated multiple claims of sexual harassment. Williams, who is also under investigation for ethics violations, called the action unfair. He was encourage to resign immediately. [NonDoc] [The Oklahoman ▲] [KOSU] [Tulsa World ▲] [Oklahoma Voice] [KFOR] [KWTV]Court Opens Door for Jewish Charter SchoolOklahoma Western District Judge David L. Russell ruled that the Statewide Charter School Board violated the First Amendment when it voted against establishing Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School solely because the school would teach a particular religion. [Oklahoma Voice] [KWTV] [StateImpact]▲=Possible paywallSatchel Paige, the greatest pitcher in Negro Leagues history, worked as a pitching coach for the Tulsa Oilers in 1973.Ciao for now,Ted StreuliExecutive Director, Oklahoma Watch<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3IgxKp_1FUz0Sid00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3IgxKp_1FUz0Sid00" width="800" height="1000" ></figure>Help Us Make a DifferenceOklahoma needs high-quality investigative journalism. That is our mission at Oklahoma Watch. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you to sustain our coverage. Will you help us make a difference?<h2>Support our publication </h2>Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.</div></body>

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Medicare’s Dementia Program Is Helping Oklahoma Families. Not Nearly Enough of Them. Sandi Hegeman was able to attend her son’s wedding because Medicare paid for someone to stay with her mother-in-law. That sentence captures both the promise and the limitation of the GUIDE program in Oklahoma. As Raynee...

First Watch: Stuff You Should Know

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Medicare’s Dementia Program Is Helping Oklahoma Families. Not Nearly Enough of Them. Sandi Hegeman was able to attend her son’s wedding because Medicare pa

First Watch: Stuff You Should Know

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