Opponents of a bill that transforms the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. board from being merely advisory to a governing one believes the measure would ultimately be detrimental to the Commonwealth Health Center.<\/p>\n
Hospital CEO Esther Mu\u00f1a, who was joined by other CHCC officials to oppose the bill, expressed frustration yesterday over the Legislature\u2019s passage of the measure.<\/p>\n
The Senate passed the bill Tuesday a week after the House eased it through.<\/p>\n
In a telephone call yesterday to the Saipan Tribune, Mu\u00f1a said the proposed board of trustees governing the corporation would not pass the next Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services survey, resulting in the cancellation of CMS funding to run the lone hospital service provider of the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen CMS comes in, they are not just looking at the governance of the hospital. What they are going to look at is the evaluation of these members on their roles and their responsibilities,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a. <\/p>\n
She believes creating a politically appointed board to govern the affairs of the CHCC would work against the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201c[CMS is] going to evaluate if they understand how [the board\u2019s] decision\u2026are linked to infection control, quality control, utilization review, medical staff, nursing services, and more. Those are the things that our current governing board of the hospital\u2026decide on to communicate with all the staff about on a quarterly basis,\u201d she added. \u201cIt\u2019s actually comprehending how it links to everything else in the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hospital\u2019s governing board consists of the CEO, chief financial officer, and chief medical officer.<\/p>\n
A consultant on the bill, Pedro Deleon Guerrero, confirmed that House Bill 19-186, HD1, would affect CMS recertification, but went on to say that it depended on the hospital\u2019s ability to comply with CMS requirements.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a also believes that closely managing the people instead of the hospital itself\u2014as what happened under a governing board at CHC\u2014is a bad idea in general.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason why we are against that bill is the fact that you are allowing micro-management of healthcare services and hospital services. This bill, the way it is written, allows micro-management to occur,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a thinks that having a governing body\u2014as opposed to an individual governing over operations\u2014is not efficient, especially for matters that are time-sensitive such as healthcare.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re on the surgery table and you need to make a decision, I cannot authorize [the sudden purchase of medicine and equipment] anymore. You\u2019ve got to wait for the board to meet and make a decision. Is that the kind of system that we want in place? I just can\u2019t fathom that people think it\u2019s okay,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a said that before making decisions, there are at least two things that she considers. \u201cFirst of all, is it going to save a life? Do we have the money for it? If not, when we provide it, do we get reimbursed for it? That is something that we eventually see later on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite all the comments that opposed the passage of the bill, the Senate unanimously passed it and Mu\u00f1a can\u2019t help but feel disappointed with the Legislature\u2019s decision. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is disappointing that our lawmakers disregarded our concerns on the bill: technical concerns, the question of legality, and even the consequences of health in the CNMI,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a in an email. \u201cThese are the people that are elected to protect our people so you can imagine the disappointment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a said that no matter what happens to CHCC, the goal would stay the same\u2014to provide proper medical healthcare to the people of the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal now is to lead the CHCC team to continue with the same passion to help with improving the health of our people. Our mission is the same\u2014just a little harder when you know what\u2019s in the horizon,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
One of the bill\u2019s authors is Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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