For 5th time, feds reject NMI request for Kagman health center

For the fifth time, the CNMI’s application for a federal grant fund that will be used to build a Kagman Community Health Center has been rejected.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) wrote to acting governor Eloy S. Inos yesterday about the rejection of the Federally Qualified Health Center funding grant application.

“I understand this is the fifth unsuccessful attempt,” Sablan told Inos. “And it is especially disheartening given the $80,000 planning grant that the Department of Public Health was able to obtain with my support in August 2009.”

Sablan said his support in 2009 was predicated on representations that the planning grant would be used to hire a consultant and grant writer with previous experiences and success in applying for FQHC funding.

The delegate said he’s hoping that the administration will not give up in its attempt to establish a needed health center, and that it will consider other opportunities such as certification of an FQHC Look-Alike “which can sometimes be a precursor to establishment of a full-fledged Federally Qualified Health Center.”

The acting governor’s counsel, Teresa Kim, who is also the acting press secretary, said the Department of Public Health has not received the official letter informing the agency that it did not get the Community Health Center Grant.

“We are awaiting for this letter so that we can properly respond based on the number that we get (i.e., rating). Once we get this notification, we will be in a better position to release more information,” Kim said.

Sablan said DPH will receive notification by Sept. 30 regarding the unsuccessful application for FQHC funding.

In his letter, the delegate said there are many benefits to winning designation as an FQHC, besides the up to $650,000 in startup grant.

These include enhanced Medicare reimbursement for health centers, eligibility to buy drugs at reduced prices and access to primary health care professionals working under the auspices of the National Health Service Corps.

Sablan said that an application packet for FQHC Look-Alikes is going out this month and that on Oct. 3, interested organizations may apply online.

“Much of the application already submitted for an FQHC can be reused in seeking Look-Alike designation,” he added.