Previous Story
More than 84K Medicaid applicants OK’d in 5 yrs.
»Outstanding claims to providers now down to $900K
In the span of five fiscal years—from 2010 to 2015—a total of 85,549 clients have been approved under the CNMI Medicaid Office, according to program administrator Helen Sablan.
The most number of Medicaid patients was in 2011 when a total of 17,233 were approved, while 2010 and 2013 had more than 15,000 approved applicants.
Of the approved applicants from 2010 to 2015, 8,446 were new applicants, 29,051 were reapplications, and 47,052 were renewals.
The Medicaid program client base increased due to an increase in health insurance costs and those who were previously enrolled couldn’t afford the increases.
Last fiscal year alone, the Medicaid office had a client base of 15,165, and only seven months into fiscal year 2015, about 5,144 are already approved.
The client base is expected to increase this fiscal year 2015.
Northern Marianas descent recipients numbered the most with a total of 39,472, while Asians ranked second with a total of 26,487 clients.
From fiscal years 2010 to 2015, only 1,811 were denied due to excess income, resources, and vehicles; had no Social Security Income, no resident property, non-U.S. and non-local.
Last year a total of 286 were denied, while 69 were denied in fiscal year 2015.
