Medicare team makes surprise visit to CHC

A seven-member team from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is on island for a surprise visit to the Commonwealth Health Center and Hemodialysis Center.

Department of Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez was seen meeting with the Medicate representatives yesterday at his office.

While he confirmed the team’s visit, Villagomez didn’t disclose other details of their activities.

“Yes, they’re here and they’re doing a thorough checking on everything,” he said in a short interview.

Villagomez would not say how long the team will be on island and refused to comment on the team’s initial observations.

The team arrived on Monday and immediately met with Health Department officials and staff.

In January 2010, Medicare received a complaint about the hospital’s services, prompting them to conduct an investigation. The federal agency found serious deficiencies in the hospital’s services and threatened to terminate its “provider agreement” if corrective actions are not taken. CHC was also placed on a severe status of “jeopardy.”

The 112-page Statement of Deficiencies particularly took issue with the hospital’s nursing services, citing six concerns involving its governing body, quality assessment and performance improvement, medical staff, nursing services, radiologic services, and infection control.

CHC later submitted plans to Medicare on how it intends to resolve all deficiencies found during the investigation survey. This week’s inspection aims to validate these “corrective plans.”

Gayline Blau, the hospital’s acting nursing director, told Saipan Tribune yesterday that she met the Medicare team on Monday and accompanied them to areas and sections that they wanted to inspect.

Blau said the inspection is not yet finished and she can’t say if there will be an exit interview later.

As of yesterday, CHC has 174 nursing staff, Blau said, of which 124 are registered nurses; the rest are nursing assistants, midwives, and licensed practical nurses.

Health Department officials earlier told Saipan Tribune that majority of the deficiencies uncovered at the hospital was a result of the government’s budget constraints, which has resulted in the unavailability of needed supplies and services.

The inadequate budget is also preventing the hospital from filling key positions that have been vacant for many years now.

CHC receives from $8 million to $10 million in reimbursements from Medicare every year.

On July 21, the Fitial administration declared a state of emergency at the hospital, including Rota and Tinian health centers, due to the lack of supplies and services.