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Oklahoma Caring Vans Announce COVID-19 Testing Partnership

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Caring Foundation’s (OCF) Caring Van program announced a public-private partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) in its effort to test 90,000 people during the month of May. The Caring Vans will be used at strategically placed mobile testing sites in underserved areas, coordinated by state and local health departments.

The Caring Vans are the signature program of the Oklahoma Caring Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization funded in-kind and administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK), with a mission to provide Oklahomans with access to preventive health services. Currently, two of the nine Caring Vans are being used for transportation and administrative support for COVID-19 testing.

“We’re excited to partner with the state by using our Caring Vans to meet Oklahomans where they are, eliminating barriers of cost, transportation and limited clinic hours,” said Joseph R. Cunningham, M.D., BCBSOK President and OCF Chairman. “This collaboration allows us to work together efficiently while ensuring underserved populations have access to COVID-19 testing.”

Additional information

  • All testing kits and supplies will be provided by the OSDH and will be administered by licensed health care professionals.
  • The Caring Vans will be operated by state and city health department staff.  
  • The vans will provide climate-controlled transportation and supply storage, and no testing or specimen collection will happen inside the vans.

Two clinics were held in Tulsa and Oklahoma City this week. Additional clinic dates and locations will be available early next week.

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About The Oklahoma Caring Foundation
The Oklahoma Caring Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization administered as an in kind gift by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company. These companies are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Foundation was established in 1994 to improve the health of Oklahoma children through vaccinations and access to basic, preventive health care. For more information, visit oklahomacaringfoundation.org.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
For 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has been committed to meeting the health care financing needs of Oklahomans. As the state's oldest and largest private health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma provides health care benefit plans for more than 830,000 Oklahomans. For more information, visit bcbsok.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact

Lauren Cusick
918-551-2002
Lauren_Cusick@bcbsok.com



A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association