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Medicaid suspends some services
The CNMI’s Medicaid agency has officially sent out notice to its vendors that certain services must be put on hold until further notice due to lack of funding.
Acting Medicaid director Rosita Benito said yesterday that, because the Department of Finance has informed them that there really is no money for the matching funds needed to tap into the federal funds allocated for the Medicaid program, Medicaid has had to send out notices to its vendors that certain services must be put on hold until further notice.
Benito said the notice took effect last June 1.
“We wish it didn’t have to be this way but our hands are tied,” she said.
Benito elaborated that these notices were sent out to its private vendors, which means Medicaid beneficiaries seeking medical services can only be treated at the Commonwealth Health Center or the Kagman Health Center until further notice.
Saipan Tribune also learned that due to this notice, Medicaid patients may also be restricted to the CHCC in-house pharmacy for their medication.
Benito said it is now up to the Legislature to find the money that will allow the CNMI to fulfill the matching fund requirement.
“The people of the CNMI are calling for your help,” she said.
Saipan Tribune tried to reach out to Finance Secretary Tracy Norita yesterday to comment on the situation but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Saipan Tribune spoke with Rep. Ralph Yumul (R-Saipan), vice chair for the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee, and he stated that the Office of the Governor has put in a request for $7.2 million to be allocated to the CNMI Medicaid program. He said the proposal will heard by the committee sometime in July.
Currently, the federal match rate for the CNMI’s Medicaid is at 83%, meaning the CNMI would only shoulder 17% of Medicaid-related costs. Previously, the CNMI was shouldering 50% before it was lowered to 45% and the CNMI still could not afford it.
However, the 17% match is still proving to be a challenge for the CNMI.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, the Marianas’ current 83% federal match rate, technically called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, is higher than it is for any state.
