Previous Story
AG clarifies med referral staff issues
|
Posted on Mar 03 2006
The Attorney General’s Office has clarified the responsibility and authority of liaison officers with respect to Department of Public Health staff assigned to the medical referral programs in Hawaii and Guam.
According to Attorney General Matthew T. Gregory, liaison officers have no statutory authority over the medical referral program. Their duties are limited to assisting the governor in executing CNMI laws, regulations and policies regarding off-island medical referrals, student assistance, and other matters.
“[But] it is the Department of Public Health that has established and administers the medical referral program,” Gregory said in a legal opinion issued at the request of the Office of Personnel Management.
DPH also hires medical referral staff and pays their salary from the department’s budget, he noted.
However, based on job descriptions for the staff positions, the administrative officer for Hawaii and the medical referral assistant for Guam are under the general supervision of the liaison officer.
The administrative assistant for Hawaii is under the supervision of the assistant liaison officer.
The medical referral utilization reviewer/coordinator for Hawaii assists the liaison officer in the overall coordination of the medical referral program; and the medical referral coordinator for Hawaii is under the general supervision of the medical referral officer, Gregory said.
