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Speedy recovery for former Gov. Guerrero
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Posted on Jun 22 2000
At Issue: Former Governor Larry Guerrero is seriously ill at a Manila hospital.
Our View: We join our people and leadership in prayers for his speedy recovery and safe return home.
We are sadden to learn of former Governor Larry Guerrero’s serious illness while on a business trip to Manila.
We understand that the former governor suffered a stroke Tuesday morning while preparing for his business meeting.
We understand too that last evening, the former governor underwent major brain surgery at Makati Medical Center to remove blood clot to ease the pressure and allow for regular blood circulation.
We join the family and our people in prayers that the former governor makes speedy recovery and a safe return home soon.
Need for Medicare office here
At Issue: The fate of Medicare recipients in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Our View: Where do they go for assistance, i.e., submission of medical bills for subsequent payment?
We know there are Medicare recipients in the NMI who receive some form of financial assistance following medical treatment.
If one of your folks is a Medicare recipient, be prepared for all the wrong answers or the real merry-go-round bit, when asking for assistance: The closest Medicare office is in Honolulu.
We tried assisting one recipient and guess how many referrals we were given in less than an hour: We called CHC who gave us the phone number for Medicaid. We asked Medicaid who then is the appropriate agency to which a staff said “Social Security”. We contacted Social Security to which we were told in stern fashion: “We have nothing to do with Medicare!”
The recipient then related that perhaps the address she was given (Honolulu) is the appropriate venue. Perhaps Interior’s OIA field office could assist getting a physical office for Medicare established here soon? Medicare recipients don’t deserve dealing with an office outside the CNMI.
It’s time consuming and the requirement for a one-on-one explanation on specific circumstance on, i.e., submission and payment of medical bills over the telephone is a costly expense for Medicare recipients. They are, after all, Medicare recipients!
