OIA upbeat about CHC, reservations on CUC

Visiting officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs walked away impressed with the progress and changes seen at the public hospital, while admitting that they have a number of questions about the islands’ utilities company.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Area Lori Faeth and OIA Director Nik Pula told Saipan Tribune last week that besides the Executive Branch, they also had a series of meetings on Thursday and Friday with other agencies that OIA has aided: the Public School System, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., among others.

“I would say that we’re encouraged by the progress they have made in the public hospital and we’ve seen the commitment to continue to go forward at this time,” said Faeth after emerging from Thursday morning’s meeting and a walkthrough at the hospital.

She praised the corporation for the actions it has taken to rectify the concerns and deficiencies cited by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. OIA sent a “90-day mission team” to the hsopital last year and funded the 11-member commissioned corps that helped the hospital address many CMS concerns.

CMS’s decision on the hospital’s Condition of Participation is expected in June this year.

If Faeth felt positive about the hospital, Pula admits that OIA has some questions for CUC related to a number of issues that include projects, operations, and others.

OIA has funded and continues to fund multiple projects for CUC to satisfy the requirements of two federal stipulated orders. The federal officials had a closed door meeting with CUC last Friday.

“I know that everybody is struggling [with the high power rates] because of the cash flow problem of the utilities agency. I understand that the hospital, government, and public schools owe CUC too. Hotels are also being encouraged to go back to the grid. These are some issues that we need to hear from CUC. So obviously, I’ve got a lot of questions to make and I will find the answers in our meeting [Friday],” Pula told Saipan Tribune.

Pula and Faeth met Thursday noon with local education leaders and walked away satisfied and impressed with what they heard. The idea of making PSS a role model for Micronesian school districts was affirmed by Faeth.

“Though I really don’t have much exposure [to the public school system], I am impressed by the commitment to children and the accomplishments they made, particularly in the last three years. I can say I walked away impressed and I think they will be a good model [for the region],” Faeth said.