DPH: No ‘mad rush’ this time on tests

Health Certificate Renewals

There will be no “mad rush” to renew health screenings for nonresident workers this year, according to Connie Gurrero, Public Health Liaison at the Department of Labor and Immigration.

Last year some 37,000 nonresidents had to be screened in 90 days. While the anniversary date for the emergency health regulations is February 25th, employers should know that all employees do not need to be rescreened beginning on that date.

“Renewal of the contract is now the important date,” according to Guerrero. She notes that this will result in staggered renewal dates and that the first group of persons screened will have some “lag time.” There should be no rush this year.

“Some will have their health certificate expire — but their entry permit will still be valid. Others will have their entry permit expire but their health certificate will still be valid for a couple of months. This is because of the mass screening we did last year,” she said.

Change in Procedure regarding Equal Opportunity & Health Certificates

Due to feedback from the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, Public Health has amended the Alien Health Screening Regulations to ensure a more efficient process and privacy of personal health information. The procedure is as follows:

•The employer takes the employee to a private medial clinic for a physical exam, chest x-ray, and laboratory testing.

•The Clinic will forward the completed exam and lab results to the Public Health Liaison Office for processing of the Health Clearance

•Before the clinic will forward the completed results, a Xerox copy of the $20 processing fee receipt must be attached to the medical screening form or forms. The $20 fee can be pad at any of the following:
•Capitol Hill CNMI Treasury Office
•Department of Motor Vehicles CNMI Treasury Office
•Labor and Immigration CNMI Treasury Office

•After the clinic has sent the Liaison Office the sealed envelope or envelopes with the completed medial screening form, lab results, and the copy of the $20 receipt, the certificates will be ready for pickup in about seven to 10 working days.

•The employer should keep the original $20 receipt and be prepared to present it to the Liaison staff in order to pick up the health certificate.

If employers or employees have questions about these issues, they can contact Connie Guerrero at 664-3168 or via fax 235-4870.