House OKs bill for autonomous hospital, DPH

The House has unanimously approved a bill that seeks to establish a self-governing entity, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., which will govern an autonomous Commonwealth Health Center.

Introduced by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, House Bill 16-9 passed the House’s final reading with a 16-0 vote during Monday’s session. The bill now goes to the Senate.

House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare chair Rep. Ralph DLG. Torres told Saipan Tribune yesterday that his committee, Hofschneider, and Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez have been working closely to see so it that there would be a smooth transition period when the legislation becomes law.

“It [creation of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.] is very important. We could be eligible for more federal funding because it’s a corporation rather than how it is structured now. We don’t have a board right now for DPH. So with this [bill] it creates a board,” the lawmaker said.

The committee conducted a lot of public hearings on the proposed measure on Rota, Tinian, and in some villages on Saipan.

“We took all the comments and recommendations from the respective departments and whoever that came in gave their testimony,” Torres said.

During committee meeting, members consolidated all the comments and came out with solutions and recommendations, he added.

“The standing committee pushed for its passage. So yesterday, we passed this. Sixteen members present all voted for it,” Torres said.

Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio earlier cautioned the Legislature about the autonomy being proposed under the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

Tenorio said the bill should be clearer about who would be ultimately responsible for running the hospital once it is transformed into a separate, self-governing entity.

The legislation states that healthcare services under the Department of Public Health are not operating as effectively as demanded by consumers.

“Several factors are responsible, including a changing environment for public healthcare financing, stagnant public funding, and difficulties in procurement, recruiting and staffing,” the bill states.

Hofschneider said in the legislation that the establishment of an advisory body representative of the community would ensure that healthcare management receives the advice it needs to guide the corporation toward increased financial self-sufficiency.

The bill would allow the corporation to assume the functions and duties of the Commonwealth Health Center; the clinics including Rota Health Center, Tinian Health Center, the Women’s Clinic, and the Children’s Clinic; and the Community Guidance Center.

A chief executive officer appointed by the governor will be the head of the corporation for a term of four years.

It would have a seven-member board of trustees that the chief operating officer may call upon from time to time for advice and assistance.