Another step backward

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. was established under Public Law 16-51, which restructured the administration of the Northern Mariana Island’s only hospital, the Commonwealth Health Center, into a self-governing corporation. The enactment of PL16-51 allowed healthcare administrators and professionals the “flexibility and authority to independently meet acute and long-term healthcare needs of the Commonwealth…” without the influence of politics or suffering from political backlash.

However, on Oct. 7, 2016, it was announced that NMI leaders in the House of Representatives of the 19th Commonwealth Legislature approved House Bill 19-186, which seeks to re-establish a government approved board of trustees within CHCC, giving the board complete control over its management and resources. The establishment of the board will not require its six appointed members to have any healthcare or medical field background. These potential members can be anyone with “at least a bachelor’s degree from any postsecondary institution and five years of management and supervisory experience…,” many of whom will be most likely be selected from within the political spectrum.

This attempt to break the foundation and initial reasoning on which CHCC is now built upon does not only affect the efficiency of CHCC’s management but risks the hospital’s future on a governing body that does not have the healthcare experience or qualifications to be in control of a hospital’s day-to-day activities. Re-establishing the board with these minimal qualifications is purposeless and will become a roadblock that will eventually slow the progression of CHCC’s primary mission, which is to provide the best medical care for the residents of the CNMI. Being a resident, an off-island student, and a voter in the CNMI, I cannot stand silent to the lack of common sense in which HB19-186 was approved. The approval of this bill places the years of work to re-establish CHCC’s good graces with the Centers of Medicaid/Medicare Services and the rejuvenation of healthcare professionals at CHCC in complete jeopardy. The modernization of CHCC and re-accreditation with CMS would not have been possible without CHCC’s current leadership and administration. So lawmakers why obstruct that progress with HB19-186?

It’s a complete outrage that politics again is trying to interfere in the hospital’s affairs that are better left to the professionals themselves. I’m talking about healthcare administrators, medical professionals and hospital staff who have spent years studying, training, ultimately receiving accreditation or acknowledgement from nationally recognized boards in their respective fields. This political move is a disservice to the physicians, nurses, and entire medical community of the CNMI. It is step back that places the healthcare security of our islands in another state of disarray and does not provide any solution to the address the health disparities across our region.

Johnny Tudela Aldan
Creighton University School of Medicine student