Kilili: Happy birthday, Affordable Care Act

Kagman Community Health Center directors—Dr. Ignacia Demapan, Fernando Camacho, Lennie Hermosilla, and Velma Palacios—and executive director Vince Castro met with Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan in Washington, D.C. recently for an update on the Health Center. Also on hand were community health center officials Annie Mesa Makepeace, Ben Meno, and Mintina Shimizu from Guam; Teruo Chokai from Palau; Dr. Angelica Agapito from Yap; Dr. Tholman Alik and Jacob George from Kosrae; Johnny Choban from Ebeye, Marshall Islands; and Arielle Buyum from the Pacific Islands Primary Care Association. (Contributed Photo)

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP) celebrated last Friday the 6th anniversary of President Obama’s signing of the Affordable Care Act.

Sablan said Kagman Community Health Center Board members—Dr. Ignacia Demapan, Fernando Camacho, Lennie Hermosilla, and Velma Palacios—and executive director Vince Castro met with him in Washington, D.C. last week for an update on their work bringing much-needed, primary care health services to residents of Kagman, Dandan, San Vicente, As Teo, and the surrounding areas of Saipan.

Because of the hard work and vision of these individuals and others over many years the Kagman Community Health Center finally was able to open its doors in 2013. And they are now looking to do the same for Tinian and Rota.

One other thing that made the Health Center possible was the Affordable Care Act—or Obamacare—which provided the money: $2,983,850 so far for the Kagman facility.

“I want to acknowledge this important contribution the Affordable Care Act is making to our community, especially this week, when Obamacare celebrates its 6th anniversary. But the Affordable Care Act did more than open the Kagman Community Health Center. It kept our only hospital open, too.”

Sablan said just when the Commonwealth government cut support for the hospital, the Affordable Care Act stepped in with an extra $109 million for the Northern Marianas Medicaid program. And over the years, good management by the Medicaid office and the hospital has been able to draw down $55 million of the Obamacare money—about $1 million every month.

“Without that funding lifeline our only hospital might well have closed,” said Sablan.

The Commonwealth Health Center will continue to be able to use those Affordable Care Act/Medicaid dollars until they are gone in 2019.

“But what happens then? Some say, ‘rip up’ Obamacare, get rid of it. Don’t they understand how important this landmark law is to the health of the people of our islands?” said Sablan.

According to Sablan, President Obama wants to expand Medicaid to treat the Northern Marianas just like a U.S. state. That would mean an unlimited amount of federal money for the CNMI, a much lower local share, and no end of funding in 2019.

“I agree with the President. On this 6th birthday of the Affordable Care Act we should not be talking about killing the program, we should be wishing it a very long and healthy life. Because keeping Obamacare alive means keeping our hospital open, keeping the Kagman Community Health Center open, and giving thousands of people in our islands access to the medical care they need. Happy Birthday, Affordable Care Act!”

Sablan has represented the people of the Northern Mariana Islands in the United States House of Representatives since 2009. (PR)