‘Negotiable’ starting salary for hospital CFO approved

* 10 off-island candidates to be interviewed April 22-24
* Lack of full-time hospital finance chief concerns MPLT

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. may soon name a permanent chief financial officer after it disclosed yesterday that some 10 individuals are scheduled to be interviewed next week. All 10 are recruits from outside the CNMI.

Interim corporation CEO Esther Muña told the board yesterday that the qualified contenders were chosen by a selection committee from an original pool of 32 applicants who responded to the job vacancy announcement in December.

Muña said the corporation will offer whoever is selected a starting salary of $80,000 that will be negotiable. She said this amount was both approved by the corporation board and Executive Branch.

In response to the board’s queries yesterday, Muña said that all local applicants did not meet the position’s requirements as mandated by Public Law 16-51. The position requires an applicant to have at least a master’s degree in business administration and five years of experience in healthcare finances.

For next week’s scheduled interview, candidates were given a packet of documents such as the HealthTech Report and the hospital’s annual report to give candidates an overview of the corporation.

During a board meeting in March, Muña endorsed the hiring of a retiree from Hawaii to become the hospital CFO. She then described this person as the “perfect candidate” because of the individual’s strong background in managing the finances of many healthcare systems in Hawaii. Saipan Tribune learned yesterday that this plan didn’t push through.

Meantime, board member Anthony Raho emphasized the need to immediately fill the CFO position as it is an ongoing concern for the Marianas Public Land Trust, where the corporation has a line of credit.

As in previous board meetings, interim CFO Cora Ada was criticized anew by some board members who were dissatisfied with her financial reports.

Particularly dismayed were board chair Torres, vice chair Pete Dela Cruz, and board member Roy Rios, who were one in saying that Ada’s data were “confusing.”

Ada explained that CHCC—compared to other agencies—uses a different financial system that oftentimes confuses the board.

Board trustee Philip Mendiola-Long expressed concern about the $80,000 starting salary for the CFO. Mendiola-Long said he is amenable to providing up to $120,000 to $150,000 for the CFO, provided the person possesses the “institutional knowledge” that would help turn around the corporation’s finances.

Mendiola-Long recommended that the $80,000 salary offer be changed to “open” so as not to turn off potential candidates. Interim CEO Muña agreed to this proposal.

It’s been almost two years since the CFO position was vacated. CHCC lost its CFO in 2012 when Alvaro Santos’ employment term expired. Ada has since then been serving in an acting capacity.