By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

LIEUTENANT Gov. Michael W. Cruz met with Bush administration officials during the opening day of the 2007 National Lieutenant Governors Association winter meetings.
Cruz discussed a variety of options to help Guam’s healthcare system, joining 32 lieutenant governors from across the nation in a Cabinet level briefing at the White House.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johannes sought support from Cruz and his colleagues for the re-authorization of the $618 billion 2007 Farm Bill.
The USDA is proposing to use money from this fund to support $1.6 billion in loan guarantees for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of certified rural critical access hospitals. There are currently 1,263 such hospitals across the nation.
Cruz said the re-authorization of the 2007 Farm Bill may assist with the Guam Memorial Hospital’s capital needs.
“We must be included in this program, especially with the financial conditions facing Guam’s healthcare system. Getting a USDA designation for our hospital will improve the delivery of health services,” Cruz said in a statement.
Critical access hospitals allow rural communities access to primary and emergency health care services in areas where maintaining full service, acute-care hospitals isn’t feasible.
Cruz also met with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officials who discussed efforts with the President’s Value Driven Health Care Program.
Through a presidential executive order, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is seeking partnerships with state and territorial governments to improve healthcare through interoperable health information technology, sharing of quality of care information, measuring price information and promoting quality and efficiency of care.