Muna cautions against changing CHCC structure

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive office Esther L. Muna, MHA, cautions against changing the organizational structure of CHCC, especially now that it has improved the hospital’s standards despite the lack of funds. Muna spoke to lawmakers last Thursday with some of her comments directed at House Bill 19-186.

HB 19-186, introduced by Rep. Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan), is an act to give the board of trustees the powers and duties of governing, managing, and controlling the affairs of CHCC. The CEO currently has those powers under the law, Public Law 16-51. That same law gives the seven-member board an advisory role only.

Muna said CHCC has some concerns with HB 19-186 as the Committee Report 19-136 by the House Health and Welfare Committee chaired by Ogumoro has no clear reason why as a repealer and reenactment for PL 16-51 is necessary.

“Most of the members of the Joint Health Committees acknowledged [in last week’s] hearing that there were significant improvements at CHCC. Some of those improvements would not have occurred if it weren’t for the structure created by PL 16-51,” said Muna.

“So I am requesting that caution should be made when changing a structure that has managed to ensure there are improvements to our health system and ensure quality standards are set, despite the lack of funding this structure receives on the annual appropriation.”

The hospital board usually specifies financial objectives, ensure capital is effectively located, enhance credit worthiness, and advocate for the hospital in all arenas.

“CHCC is not just a hospital as we are also responsible for all public health services, public behavioral health services, and public clinics on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. A politically appointed board which ‘governs, manages, and controls’ the CHCC runs far outside the lines of best practices,” she added.

Senate vice president Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan) lauded Muna and her entire team at CHCC for getting over a lot of challenges like the lack of funding. “Funding continues to be an issue and we are impressed with the limited resources they have, they’ve gone over the real challenges.”

Muna, doctors, and other staff attended last week’s Joint Committee on Health and Welfare Committee meeting since the transmittal of HB 19-186 was part of the agenda where they wanted to make sure legislators won’t act on it.

“The bill wants to reorganize CHCC’s current organizational structure,” said Palacios. “Whether we want to keep going back and forth, I think we need to get input from CHCC and from the community members so that once and for all we could come up with an organized structure that would stabilize healthcare system.”