A lawmaker is exploring the possibility of introducing a bill that will relieve indigents the burden of paying for their own medical bills in light of the deepening economic crisis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.<\/p>\n
Rep. Max Olopai said there is a pressing need to introduce such program considering the poor financial condition of the NMI.<\/p>\n
“We will try to come up with a program that will help those people who cannot afford to pay for their medical bills,” Olopai said.<\/p>\n
The legislator was particularly concerned on people with diabetes.<\/p>\n
Berthillia John Camacho, a nurse at the Division of Public Health, said authorities must first determine who are indigents, considering that the Northern Marianas currently doesn’t have a standard poverty level baseline.<\/p>\n
“It’s very hard to determine who are indigents because we don’t have a poverty level baseline. Whenever we apply for a federal grant we have to draw the line who’s below (the poverty level) income,” Camacho said.<\/p>\n
However, others said any worker earning $18,000 and below every year is considered an indigent, although the government has not confirmed if this was acceptable.<\/p>\n
Camacho said even those who are understood to be in the middle income bracket could now qualify as indigents.<\/p>\n
“Most of our patients are clerks, secretaries, worrying about car payment, housing payment. Establishing a program that will help indigents (will surely be a blessing for them),” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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