Queen’s to accept NMI patients again

Once payments for previous medical services rendered are made, Queen’s Medical Center will again accept CNMI medical referral patients seeking highly specialized treatment in the Hawaii-based hospital.

Queen’s made a firm commitment to the CNMI following a lengthy discussion on alleged billing discrepancies and overblown medical charges billed to the Department of Public Health and the Group Health and Life Insurance Program.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, Senate Floor Leader Pete Reyes disclosed recent meeting with Queen’s officials paved the way for a clear understanding on how to resolve problems that included medical charges and admission of CNMI patients.

Mr. Reyes said an agreement on establishing a document control center to oversee billing records, payments and individual insurance agencies responsibilities, was also reached between the CNMI delegation and Queen’s administration.

The Department of Public Health also agreed to be the conduit. DPH will channel funds for payments, as well as handle the document control center responsible for billing records.

“Queen’s is committed to have a friendly relationship with the CNMI, and they will accept off-island medical referral patients again,” the senator said.

Presently, CNMI has an estimated $870,000 outstanding debts to Queen’s but Mr. Reyes disclosed that measures will be undertaken to channel necessary funds to pay off the Honolulu-based hospital.

Another problem that the Commonwealth has discovered during the trip, said Mr. Reyes, is the inclusion of patients from Marshall Islands and Palau in the CNMI bills.

This is one of the reasons why medical charges to DPH Medical Referral Office and GHLI have accumulated and resulted to overblown medical charges.

The health department was also tasked to sort out billing records and ensure payments of individual insurance firms to Queen’s and other Hawaii hospitals.

He said the agreed procedure will not only benefit Queen’s but other health service providers tapped by Medical Referral Office as well. There are now over 270 health providers on- and off-island visited by CNMI patients on a weekly basis.

“DPH will have the lead role, reviewing records, channeling funds, to create a smoother processing of payments,” the senator said.

Meanwhile, House Committee chair on Health and Welfare Malua Peter disclosed a meeting with NMI Retirement Fund Administrator Juan S. Torres and GHLIP Manager Dolores Moore will be scheduled.

Ms. Peter said through this meeting, the committee hopes to get a clearer picture of the current standing of the program following the review of documents submitted by the GHLIP.

She said review of the documents are now on the final stage and will be forwarded to Health and Welfare committee for comprehensive discussion. (EGA)