CHCC awarded $6.4M grant for CNMI’s very own MRI

The prestigious Helmsley Charitable Trust has officially announced the CNMI’s inclusion to its Rural Healthcare Program portfolio and, in doing so, has provided the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. an over $6-million grant for the CNMI’s very own state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI.

During a press conference yesterday at the CHCC, Helmsley Charitable Trust trustee Walter Panzirer made a historical announcement: the inclusion of the CNMI in its Rural Healthcare Program. In addition to the expansion, the CNMI was awarded over $6 million for an MRI and a building to house it in.

“The Trust is celebrating its 15th year of its Rural Healthcare Program. Over the last 15 years, we have funded over $700 million in eight rural states in the mainland. That’s the historic announcement, we’ve expanded our program to two U.S. territories: the CNMI and American Samoa. Today, I am so happy to be announcing our expansion to Saipan and with that, comes a great grant, a $6.4-million grant to the CHCC to provide the CNMI with its first ever MRI,” he said.

Panzirer explained that last year, he heard of the CNMI’s unique healthcare challenges and decided to come out and see it for himself.

“So my staff and I came out last year to explore and learn of the healthcare problems in the CNMI. The governor was so kind to open up his office to speak to us about healthcare challenges and arranged meetings with different entities here as well as the hospital. We saw the challenges ourselves first hand. We heard about the challenges of people having to travel to Guam (even further out to Hawaii) for healthcare diagnostics and higher levels of care. A lot of that is significant cost to not only to insurance companies and Medicaid, but its a huge out of pocket expense for the patients making it a huge challenge for families to receive needed healthcare. So, when we got back, I made the decision with the other trustees to include the CNMI in our Rural Healthcare portfolio,” he said,

“Now, the CNMI [will have] the latest and greatest equipment to meet their needs because I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter where you live, your zip code should not determine your healthcare outcome. At the Trust, we aim to change that in the mainland and now here,” he said.

In closing, Panzirer said this is the start of a long partnership between the CNMI and the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

“With our new commitment, that also means that we are partners, and we are going to be here for a while. This is a beginning of a long partnership,” he said.

CHCC CEO Esther Muña expressed her gratitude, in behalf of CHCC and its patients, to the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

“Today is nothing short of momentous. We met with Walter last summer when he took the time to visit us here at CHCC to learn about the unique challenges we face. One of those challenges was that we don’t have an MRI in CHCC. Hundreds of our patients must travel off-island for a service that most people in the United States provide their own communities. Having an MRI on island will improve our ability to diagnose and monitor various medical conditions including (but no limited to) neurological issues, cardiovascular diseases, and more,” she said.

Muña shared that once the CNMI has its own MRI, it will tremendously cut costs for those in need of the vital healthcare service.

“MRI studies will be immediately available for emergency cases and when patients come in with trauma. Those who make it off-island for care leave behind their families, support systems, and even their jobs. Now, because of the Trust, this state-of-the-art diagnostics care will be available here at home. In addition, costs associated with off island referrals for MRIs will be greatly reduced if not eliminated. Having an MRI at CHC will have a tremendous impact for us in the CNMI. Also, our patients in Tinian will be able to get X-rays and ultrasounds close to home. Because of the trust, our patients will benefit from the convenience of diagnostics close to home, timely treatment plans, and medical intervention and follow up care,” she said.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios also extended his gratitude to the Trust in behalf of the entire Commonwealth.

“There is not a lot I can say, simply, on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth, to the foundation, thank you very much for this much needed assistance and thank you for your partnership,” he said.