Torres: Efforts continue to include the US territories in healthcare act

CNMI and American Samoa officials continue to push for the inclusion of U.S. territories in House Resolution 1628 or the American Healthcare Act that the House of Representatives narrowly passed after a second attempt last week.

The GOP-controlled House passed the AHCA, 217-213, and it now goes to the Senate.

AHCA is a reform bill that would repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Repealing and replacing Obamacare has been one of the key legislations promised by President Trump in last year’s campaign.

The bill did not make it when the House first voted on it in March. Trump and Republicans succeeded the second time around.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said he welcomed AHCA finally overcoming its first hurdle at the House since it is a priority bill but the issues on healthcare does not end there.

“Now that the American Healthcare Act has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, it is important that we support legislation that will provide for better healthcare outcomes for people living in the U.S,” Torres said.

He thanked American Samoa Delegate Amata Radewagen, the lone Republican delegate among the four U.S. territories, for her efforts to include territories in the bill.

“I commend Congresswoman Amata Radewagen’s efforts to address the key concerns I have raised in regard to amending [Obamacare] to provide for the equitable treatment of the territories with regards to the Medicaid program,” said Torres.

“I will continue to support [Radewagen’s] efforts to ensure the voices of the territories are heard in Congress with regards to a more accurate [Federal Medical Assistant Percentages] calculation reflective of our socioeconomic conditions.”

FMAP are rates that are used to determine and match the funds allocated every year to certain medical and social service programs in the mainland.

ACA and AHCA exclude territories but do not significantly affect the healthcare system in the CNMI.

Torres, in December last year, wrote to Majority Leader Kevin McCarty (R-California 23rd) where he made recommendations on potential reforms of the Medicaid program.

Healthcare for all
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said he and 108 other House members co-sponsored a resolution that presents a real solution on the issue of healthcare. HR 676 would provide Medicare for all.

Sablan said HR 676 includes CNMI residents. “Unlike both Obamacare and the Republican replacement passed on Thursday, HR 676 covers residents of the Mariana Islands in exactly the same way as Americans living anywhere in our country.”

“By expanding the existing federal Medicare insurance program, which 2,219 Marianas residents already use, Medicare for all would provide the full range of healthcare to everyone who needs it.”

Sablan said the healthcare program would work and be paid the same way as Medicare, “with a progressive excise tax on payroll income and by pooling existing federal expenditures for health care, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, into a single system.”

The program will be a huge help to the Commonwealth. “This would save the Commonwealth millions of dollars in local matching funds now required by Medicaid and ensure that our hospital does not have to absorb the cost of those who cannot pay for care. And anyone who chooses to buy private health insurance would still be free to do so.”