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No changes on Medicaid for private clinics
»But eye doctors and dialysis for Medicaid service available
Despite a number of community members airing their concerns through social media on Medicaid not being accepted at private clinics, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muna still has no means or intention to allow once again private clinics to avail of it.
“There are no certifications anticipated,” Muna said.
“However, specialists such as eye doctor and dialysis had been certified to be a service unavailable at CHCC. Therefore Medicaid is accepted there,” she added.
Muna
As of yesterday, private clinics on island still can’t accept Medicaid clients for outpatient services—except specialists—provided to adults and children.
Private clinics that accepted Medicaid ended June 30. CHCC made its final decision not to extend the use of private practitioners for outpatient services.
Unless Muna makes the certification she will be certifying whether the hospital does not have the physicians to treat patients.
As of now CHCC has 33 physicians and won’t need the assistance for outpatient services from private clinics.
Muna said that CHCC will not be certifying if there is a shortage of providers at CHCC but CHCC will monitor the census and purpose of visits of the patients to ensure the access to care is available.
Muna informed the CNMI Medicaid Office program that she would look over for it for a month and let the Medicaid Office know if it will be open up again with the private clinics.
There are three main clinics that used to accept Medicaid patients for outpatient services—Saipan Health Clinic, Pacific Medical Center, and Marianas Medical Center.
