Previous Story
Bill to create governing CHCC board is withdrawn
The bill to create a governing board for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. was withdrawn by its author just a month after the bill was introduced.
Senate Bill 18-52, which Sen. Joaquin Borja authored, proposes to amend some sections of Public Law 16-51 that created the CHCC and its board of trustees.
According to the Legislature’s records, Borja introduced the bill on April 30, 2014. At the May 28 session of the Senate, Borja withdrew the bill and brought it back to the Committee on Health and Welfare, which he chairs.
Borja declined to comment when contacted by Saipan Tribune yesterday.
Senate Bill 18-52 was earlier introduced following a legislative findings that the structure and business model creating the CHCC “is not functioning” and there are concerns about Public Law 16-51 that need to be addressed.
One of the concerns, according to the bill, is the need for a governing board instead of an advisory one.
“Healthcare is a very complicated and technical industry. In order to develop high quality and efficient healthcare system in the CNMI, it is imperative a qualified group of individuals, rather than one individual, make the decisions of the corporation,” stated Borja’s bill.
Among its recommendations is to reduce the number of CHCC board members from seven to five. The current board includes representatives of the medical staff, the non-medical workforce, the CEO, and CFO.
The bill also wants to give the board the power to appoint the CEO. Under Public Law 16-51, the governor makes the appointment for CEO for a four-year term.
Attorney General Joey San Nicolas recently issued a legal opinion on Public Law 16-51 in an aim to settle the issue about the board’s role in credentialing medical staff.
In that opinion, San Nicolas said the current CHCC advisory board has no “governing authority” on practically all matters pertaining to the management and operation of the corporation including the credentialing of staff.
Borja withdrew Senate Bill 18-52 on May 28.
