Bill to allow CHCC to retain medical professionals introduced

Sen. Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota) has officially introduced Senate Bill 23-67, which essentially establishes a special medical facility permit to allow physicians licensed to practice in a foreign country to practice medicine at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

During a previous Senate session, Manglona officially introduced Senate Bill 23-67 that essentially establishes a special medical facility permit to allow physicians licensed to practice in a foreign country to practice medicine at CHCC.

The Senate bill now moves to a committee for discussion.

According to Manglona in a public post, if the bill is signed into law, the CNMI may be able to recruit and retain medical professionals that are willing to stick around longer.

“The challenges we face in the CNMI, but most especially on Rota and Tinian, is being able to recruit and retain qualified medical providers. Current statute makes it difficult for foreign medical professionals to practice here and so this legislation will allow for the CHCC management along with the Health Care Professions Licensing Board to adopt regulations that would make the pathway for practicing foreign licensed medical providers much easier and less restrictive while maintaining the highest level of standards,” he said.

According to the language of the bill, Senate Bill 23-67 ultimately aims to establish a structured pathway for the recruitment of exceptionally gifted foreign licensed physicians to enhance healthcare services in the CNMI.

S.B. 23-67 would also allow the Commonwealth to issue a special medical facility permit to foreign licensed physicians who have been identified and vetted by CHCC board and management and approved by the CNMI Health Care Professions Licensing Board.

This would provide a comprehensive and structured pathway for foreign licensed physicians to supplement current healthcare resources to uphold the highest standard of healthcare delivery and enhance the quality of medical services in the CNMI, the bill states.

The bill requires interested foreign physicians to apply for a special medical facility permit.

The applications will be evaluated by the CHCC leadership and the licensing board. The special medical facility permit will allow foreign physicians to practice at CHCC for three years and, if extended, for another three years.

Donald M. Manglona