Subsistence allowance for Rota medical patients thumbed down

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has vetoed a local Senate bill that would provide financial aid to hemodialysis and terminally-ill patients on Rota, saying legal issues prevent him from enacting the measure.

Senate Local Bill 21-2, S1, which aims to establish a Medical Subsistence Allowance Program for Rota, would provide an allowance to hemodialysis patients, and those who consider their medical condition as terminally-ill. They must be residents and registered voters of Rota, and for minors, at least one parent should be a Rota voter.

While expressing support for the Rota delegation’s intention, Torres disapproved the bill due to legal issues that would arise from its enactment. This include its limitation to Rota registered voters, and the sharing of confidential medical information, which, according to the governor, is likely a violation of the federal statute Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Sen. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), who introduced the bill, said that she will be working with the delegation counsel to address Torres’ concerns and will re-introduce the legislation.

Santos also added that the bill being vetoed is “another reason or lesson for our local delegation to avoid rushing passing local bills without first thoroughly reviewing the bills, soliciting comments from stakeholders.”

The senator revealed that the local bill was passed without any comments from the Rota Health Center or the Commonwealth Health Care Corp., and that the mayor of Rota was not provided the 30-days commenting period required by law.

“Instead, the mayor was asked to provide oral comment of a yes or no on the amended legislation just an hour prior to the session,” Santos said. “When we hastily passed legislations for the sake of passing them, more than likely a veto will be the corresponding result.”

Rota delegation chair Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), in an interview, said that the Rota Legislative Delegation had been providing medical financial assistance for many years to all hemodialysis and terminally ill patients on Rota.

“Senate Local Bill 21-2 was passed to create a medical review committee consisting of health professionals so that all decisions on qualifications and type of financial assistance can be made by the committee and not the Legislative Delegation,” he added.

Manglona also said that he has asked the Senate legal counsel to review the governor’s veto message, to look at issues that need to be addressed. (Iva Maurin)