‘Move outpatients to private clinics’

Moving more outpatients to private clinics rather than containing them all at the Commonwealth Health Center formed part of an agreement hammered out during yesterday’ special conference on Health.

During his brief summary of the one-day event held yesterday at the Aqua Resort Club Rey Lounge, Gov. Juan N. Babauta said the move would eventually solve the problems that result from the shortage of doctors at CHC.

Among other recommendations, the governor said schools should encourage students to take care of their dental health by brushing their teeth everyday.

The governor commended the dialogue that took place between public and private health sectors during the conference.

The Office of the Governor and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event, with the theme “Delivering Health Care Services in the CNMI through Public and Private Partnership.”

The conference, attended by physicians and administrators of several private health care services in the CNMI, addressed the “Triad of Health Care”—access, cost and quality. It aimed to start talks about how to improve the delivery of health care services in the CNMI through a strong and sustainable public and private partnership.

SSC president Alex Sablan provided brief opening remarks in the morning followed by Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider’s overview of health care delivery in the CNMI.

Nine major speakers gave half-hour talks on their fields of expertise and experiences. Dr. David Khorram discussed the “Principles of Partnership: How CHC Can Partner with the Private Sector.” CHC’s Dr. Larry Hocog spoke about “Health Cooperative: Changing Paradigm of Health Care Coverage.”

Medical Licensing Program director and owner of Hardt Eye Clinic David Hardt talked about “Ways to Eliminate Barriers to Access” while Saipan Health Clinic Dr. Vincente Aldan discussed “Private Sector and Medicaid.”

“The Value Equation: Quality of Care and How It Impacts Costs” was discussed by Dr. Alan Nelsen of Staywell, Guam. Pacific Health Inc.’s Ted Parker provided an “Overview of Medicare Part D.” Calvo Insurance plan administrator Frank Campillo discussed “Pricing the Priceless: A Health Care Conundrum.”

CHC’s Medicaid Administrator Helen Sablan also provided a summary on the status of Medicaid in the CNMI. DPH’s deputy secretary Pete Untalan followed with his discussion on the “Challenge of Providing Health Insurance Coverage in the CNMI.”

Dr. Alan Markoff of Toothworks and Dr. Dan Lamar of PacifiCare were also given the privilege to speak briefly during the conference. Markoff discussed his observations on betel nut chewing in the CNMI while Lamar focused on what impedes the progress of the health care system in the CNMI, which he said is “politics.”

Hardt said he is glad over the outcome of the conference and is optimistic of the synergy that is taking place between public and private health care service providers in the CNMI.

He expressed belief that moving outpatients more to the private sector would be very advantageous, though other factors must also be considered such as insurance and cost to the patients.