DPH backs salary cap exemptions but…

The Department of Public Health supported a move to exempt other health professionals from the government salary cap but added that it might not be feasible given the CNMI’s current economic situation.

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said the department fully endorses Senate Bill 15-26 because it recognizes the need for the Commonwealth Health Center to stay reasonably competitive while recruiting for hard-to fill-positions.

“Recruitment and retention of health professionals is one of the biggest challenges that we face as we do not have any sufficient inventory of homegrown health professionals,” Villagomez said.

He listed seven categories of health professionals that he would like to be exempted from the $50,000 annual salary ceiling. These are nurses with specialty certification in emergency room, operation room, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and psychiatry; registered pharmacists; clinical lab technologist in microbiology, bacteriology, chemistry, and blood bank; radiographic technologist in CT, ultrasound, and nuclear med; masters prepared physical therapist; respiratory therapist; masters prepared or registered dietician/certified nutritionist; and masters prepared/level clinical psychologist and social workers.

Villagomez added, however, that the salary adjustments proposed by the bill could not be done at this time.

“Unfortunately, while I fully support the intent of the bill in providing better compensation to these highly qualified medical professionals, the current financial situation of our government does not allow the department the means to accomplish this goal,” he said.

“I do believe that when the economy does turn around, these healthcare providers should have their salary adjusted so that we are able to hire and keep them,” Villagomez added.

Authored by Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, S.B. 15-26 seeks to include nurses and other professionals in the positions exempted from the government salary ceiling.

Currently, exemptions are provided only to medical doctors, dentists, U.S. or Commonwealth-licensed engineers and architects who practice their professions, as well as professionals employed by the Legislature.