Proposed bills on health care, tourism presented in House session

Six bills were presented at a session of the House of Representatives on yesterday, with two of the proposed measures relating to the CNMI’s health care programs, two for tourism, and one proposed bill relating to the government’s insurance program.

House Bill 19-35, introduced by Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan), proposes to re-appropriate $157,040 allotted under an existing law, to the Medical Referral Program of the government.

Yumul earlier said the re-appropriation is specifically for terminally ill patients, most of whom cannot afford their medical expenses. His proposed bill seeks to give a daily stipend of $20 per patient.

Yumul is also the author of H.B. 19-36, which seeks to appropriate $4 million in payments to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s utility bill.

According to the lawmaker, the proposed amount will help CHCC, which owes the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. more than $14 million.

For tourism, Rep. Roman C. Benavente (Ind-Saipan) introduced H.B 19-38, which seeks to authorize the Division of Parks and Recreation to charge a “user fee” for visitors of the “Grotto,” a popular tourist destination on Saipan, which features a hidden cavern with a diving and swimming spot.

Benavente said this is not a “tax,” so local residents will be exempted to pay the fee. The proposed fee is between $3 and $5.

Another tourism-related bill is H.B 19-39, introduced by Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan). It seeks to provide tourists more entertainment options. The proposed bill seeks to allow hotels to operate non-poker electronic gaming devices.

Aside from giving more choices to tourists, the proposed bill may also increase tax collections and license fees for the government, the lawmaker said.

The sixth bill relates to the government’s health insurance programs. Introduced by Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), H.B. 19-37 seeks to transfer the administration of the government’s group health and life insurance programs to the Department of Finance.

Demapan earlier said the bill will “help control the rising costs of insurance premiums.”

To help control premium costs, Demapan’s bill would require all government employers—any political subdivision, branch, instrumentality, public corporation, or autonomous board or agency of the government—to participate in the government’s group health and life insurance plans.