Retirement Fund asked Pinpoint persons downed by tobacco

It would be difficult for the Group Health and Life Insurance Branch to identify program subscribers who suffered complications and ailments as a result of cigarette smoking.

The admission was made yesterday by Retirement Fund Administrator Juan S. Torres in response to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare’s recommendations made during the public hearing on the establishment of a Master Settlement Agreement Trust Fund.

While recognizing the fact that the apportioned 30 percent from the tobacco settlement will help the GHLI pay off over $4 million obligations to health providers, Mr. Torres said it will entail a lot of time for the insurance program to evaluate each claims.

He said so much time will be consumed only on the identification of program members or subscribers who had ailments or complications caused by tobacco use.

The NMIRF administrator also pointed out that exclusive use of the settlement funds for government workers, who are subscribers to the GHLIP, will discriminate victims of cigarette smoking from the private sector.

Under House Bill 12-290, GHLI will be given 30 percent of the $30 million share of the CNMI from the Master Settlement Agreement which will be expended exclusively to pay for its obligations to off and on-island medical referrals.

But during the committee meeting, lawmakers asked Fund officials and GHLI Manager Dolores Moore to identify patients with cancer caused by cigarette smoking.

The committee further averred that the funds will be strictly utilized for smoking programs and not to pay prior debts.

Mr. Torres said if the Legislature will allocate the promised 30 percent to Fund to pay off obligations, the agency will be most happy to get its share and settle several obligations to health providers.

He explained that programs to be implemented by the Fund will not discriminate other members of the community and won’t focus on government workers who comprised the GHLI’s roster.

Reports earlier noted the high percentage of deaths in the CNMI are caused by diseases related to smoking. Lung cancer rates for Chamorro males exceeded the rates of lung cancer mortality among males in the mainland U.S.

An estimated 18 percent of the total cost of hospital days in 1994 for Chamorro and Carolinian patients can be attributed to smoking. The figure does not even include out-patient visits, emergency services, medications, or off-island referrals. Most lung cancer patients are sent to off-island medical centers.