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Corporation to form CHC Foundation
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. board of trustees disclosed that the public hospital would soon create a foundation arm that would help address some of its needs. The CHCC Foundation, once established, will work side by side with the CHC Volunteers Association.
During Thursday’s board meeting, corporation CEO Esther Muna said she will soon meet with the volunteers’ group to work on this.
Muna also reported that a request for proposal is being finalized for publication of this goal.
“But before we put out the RFP, we want to meet first with the CHC Volunteers,” she said, adding that release of the request for proposal is tentatively planned for next month.
Board member Anthony Raho described the incorporation of the volunteers’ group and the new foundation as a great idea to avoid starting from the scratch. He lauded the association’s commitment in helping CHC for many years.
CHC Volunteers is a non-profit organization that makes about $100,000 a year. Over the years, the group has donated millions dollars worth of equipment to the public hospital. The association was chartered in 1986.
Not a priority
Citing the challenges faced by the public hospital and the meager budget allotted it every year by the central government, Muña said it seems that health care is not a priority on the islands.
When the CHCC was created in fiscal year 2011, it was allocated a meager $5 million seed money for its transition on the first year and only $1.9 million the following year. For fiscal year 2014, the corporation got only $2 million in local appropriation.
“Healthcare in the CNMI is not a priority as evidenced by the $2 million annual government appropriation,” Muña told the board, adding that CHCC must constantly reassess its priorities to ensure that funds are spent where it’s absolutely necessary while ensuring that CMS compliance requirements are not jeopardized.
According to Muna, “The CEO, CFO, along with the advisory board of trustees, need to aggressively send the message to the governor and the lawmakers that CHCC, with the responsibility of the health of the entire CNMI population, need to be reimbursed for providing uncompensated care.”
