Muña: Finance has yet to transfer $34.2M to CHCC

David DLG Atalig and Esther L. Muna

To date, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is still owed $34.2 million that the Department of Finance has yet to transfer to the corporation from several local appropriations, as well as allocations from the American Rescue Plan Act funding, according to CHCC chief executive officer Esther L. Muna Monday.

In a letter to Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig, a copy of which was given to Saipan Tribune by Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) yesterday, Muña showed that several public and Saipan local laws, including those from 2018, appropriated a total of $55,835,688 to CHCC.

Muna said Finance transferred so far $20,981,433 and an adjustment in the amount of $646,163, leaving $34,208,092 in total balance owed CHCC.

She said that soon after their fiscal year 2022 budget hearing, the lawmakers emphasized with her that CHCC needs to make a written request to Atalig’s office requesting for and following up on funding appropriated to CHCC by CNMI public laws. That prompted Muña’s Monday letter to Atalig, which itemized the appropriations that have a balance to date.

Based on Public Law 20-11, or the fiscal year 2018 Appropriations Act, CHCC was appropriated $2,251,926, but CHCC only received $2,176,227, leaving a balance of $75,698.

Public Law 20-58, or the Cancer Fund Special Account, appropriated $300,000 to CHCC, and CHCC received $250,000 only, leaving a balance of $50,000.

Public Law 20-32, or the Tobacco Control Fund, appropriated $2,531,250 to CHCC. The corporation only received $1,417,457, leaving a balance of $1,113,792.

Public Law 20-67, or the fiscal year 2019 Appropriation Act, allocated $10,295,016 to CHCC, which only got $1,657,877. An adjustment was made in the amount of $646,163, leaving a balance of $7,990,976.

Public Law 21-08, as amended by Public Law 21-16, or the fiscal year 2020 Appropriation Act, appropriated $2,915,546 to CHCC; the hospital corporation only received $156,684, leaving a total balance of $2,758,861.

Public Law 21-10 or the Casino License Fee, appropriated $500,000 to CHCC, but CHCC received nothing.

Public Law 21-35, or the fiscal year 2021 Appropriations Act, appropriated $86,659 to CHCC, but CHCC also received nothing.

Under Public Law 22-08, or the fiscal year 2022 Appropriation Act, CHCC’s general appropriation was $1,169,908, but it received $97,492, leaving a total balance of $1,072,416.

CHCC was appropriated $9,140,607 under the American Rescue Plan Act and it received $6,855,455, leaving a total balance of $2,285,151.

Under the Medical Referral Service Office general fund, $2,163,820 was appropriated, but nothing was transferred.

Under the MRSO ARPA, 13,480,956 was appropriated, CHCC received $8,370,239, leaving a total balance of $5,110,717.

Under the magnetic resonance imaging/hyperbaric chamber project, $10 million was appropriated, but CHCC has yet to receive any amount.

Under Saipan Local Law 22-08, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation appropriated $1 million for CHCC’s operations, renovations, and the purchase of new equipment for the hospital, and CHCC has yet to receive any amount.