CHCC still on planning stage for universal healthcare

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. might be looking at a more cost-effective measure for universal health care coverage that would benefit the community.

CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muna had been leaning over the years toward universal health care and now CHCC is in the planning grant stage.

Muna

“We need to make sure there’s a means to collect data throughout the CNMI. This is complex as well. Proper planning and working with project officer is critical. The implementation grant opportunity is not until next year so while we are planning for this, it is not as easy,” Muna said.

CHCC is working on the universal health insurance under the State Innovation Model grant that takes into account the integration of the Division of Public Health and the corporation.

The SIM grant takes advantage of the healthcare system model that CHCC has where public health, mental health, and the hospital are integrated in one agency.

Last December, CHCC was awarded the SIM grant in the amount of $750,000 after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center selected the CNMI entering into a cooperative agreement with CHCC.

The funding would enable the CNMI, CHCC, and public, private, and resident stakeholders to work collaboratively to develop a CNMI-wide plan to support healthcare transformation in CNMI with the goal of decreasing the overall cost of healthcare, improving patient experience and satisfaction with quality care and outcomes, and improving population health.

The universal health insurance would be a great help as CNMI witnessed the debacle of CHC’s funding reduction resulting to secure loans, the loss of personnel, lack of laboratory supplies, difficulties with medical referrals back in 2011, and the CMS deficiencies and immediate jeopardizes in 2011.

Recently, it has increased the standard of care, hired more physicians, extended its certification addressing CMS by decreasing its deficiencies prior to the 2011 survey, and will soon come out with a business plan that would identify revenue streams.

In an earlier interview, Muna said that transformation is critically needed and with the SIM grant, will allow and improve the integration of healthcare services between the public health and clinical services units of the CHCC and private providers.

“Should the CNMI be successful in this effort, then the CNMI would be eligible to apply for SIM ‘Test’ funding to implement the plan,” she said.