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Committee to study CHCC abolition dissolved
A special committee tasked to review a proposed abolition of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has been dissolved.
This came about as private discussions between the bill’s author, House vice speaker Janet Maratita (R-Saipan), and the House speaker ensued last Tuesday.
According to Maratita, her House Bill 20-149, which was originally referred to the special committee, has instead been referred to the House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee and the House Health Committee, chaired by Reps. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan) and Jose Itibus (R-Saipan) respectively.
“…The speaker and I have had serious discussions over the matter and [after] serious consideration and assessments of the leadership, we [decided] to refer it to the JGO and Health committees,” she said.
Maratita is vice chair of the health committee.
During last Friday’s House session, Maratita, acting as speaker in the absence of Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan), referred H.B. 20-149 to the special committee.
Maratita herself chaired that special committee, with Reps. Alice Igitol (R-Saipan), Blas Jonathan Attao (Ind-Saipan), John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), Itibus, and Gregorio M. Sablan Jr. (R-Saipan) as members.
According to Maratita, CHCC reached out to her. She did not elaborate.
“It’s a good step,” she said of the future meeting with CHCC.
She said she has no intention of withdrawing her bill, besides adding that, as she explained during the bill’s introduction last Friday, her intention is to make CHCC transparent.
“I am very happy that finally, we are reaching out to each other so we can work toward what is achievable and attainable for the healthcare delivery system,” said Maratita.
