State chief financial officer tapped to lead Medicaid agency as attorney general renews criticism of Stitt administration’s oversight.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed State Chief Financial Officer Aaron Morris as interim executive director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority following the resignation of Clay Bullard, a leadership change that quickly reignited the ongoing political dispute over management of the state’s Medicaid agency.
Morris, who has served as the state’s chief financial officer since 2024, will lead the agency for the remainder of Stitt’s term. Bullard, who was appointed executive director in October 2025, is returning to the private sector and will assist with the leadership transition in the coming weeks, according to the governor’s office.
Within hours of the announcement, Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a sharply worded statement arguing Bullard’s departure reflected broader problems within the Stitt administration.
“Clay Bullard’s resignation comes after a tenure marked by the same Stitt administration failures my office repeatedly had to confront,” Drummond said. He accused the Health Care Authority of failing to adequately oversee the state’s managed care organizations, audit provider payments, investigate potential fraud and provide sufficient accountability to taxpayers. He also pointed to his earlier request for the State Auditor and Inspector to examine the agency’s operations.
The criticism is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between Attorney General Gentner Drummond and the Stitt administration over management of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and oversight of Oklahoma’s privatized Medicaid program, known as managed care. Drummond has repeatedly questioned the agency’s financial management, oversight of the private insurers that administer SoonerCare benefits and its handling of provider payments and fraud investigations.
The agency also faced budget challenges during this year’s legislative session. The Health Care Authority requested nearly $500 million in additional appropriations to address cash-flow issues and changes in federal funding but ultimately received $250 million from lawmakers.
Stitt said Morris’ experience both as state chief financial officer and as a longtime Health Care Authority executive made him well suited to lead the agency.
“Aaron has proved to be a steady leader through any challenge,” Stitt said in a statement. “As CFO of the State, he has worked carefully to protect our state’s savings, navigate complicated budget issues, and assist agencies to increase accountability and transparency.”
Before becoming state chief financial officer, Morris spent 20 years at the Health Care Authority, including six years as its chief financial officer overseeing the agency’s finances, technology and program integrity. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Business Administration from Cameron University.
“It is a privilege to continue serving my state, and I am grateful for the Governor’s confidence in me,” Morris said in a statement. “I look forward to working to address the budgetary and regulatory issues that face the agency.”
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority administers SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to more than 1 million Oklahomans.
