Variety counted over 28 people waiting for their number to be called; either to submit or follow-up a Medicaid application with only two young clerks working to serve each person in turn.
Even more shocking than the physical limitations of the building, the sheer volume of applicants and minimal staff were the mountains of paperwork stacked in very neat piles three to five-feet high in every available inch of the office.
Imagine an office literally swallowing its few employees with piles of paper and filing cabinets.
During Variety’s second visit — after 11 a.m. when the office closes to applicants — this reporter had the opportunity of speaking with the program’s sole eligibility worker, Rosita, for all of the CNMI.
Superhuman effort
For November 2011, Rosita received 1,216 applications for the blue Medicaid card or 40 per day.
She also receives 25-30 frantic calls and visits every working day from families with urgent medical or medication needs for children and manamko’.
“I try my best to work as fast as I can so these families in urgent conditions can get help…but as one person I can only process so many per day under the current austerity reductions,” she said.
She recounted how on many nights while sitting at home the pleading calls for help race around her mind like torture and that the sadness can be suffocating.
She reviewed 16,931 applications in FY 2011.
Of that figure, 6,358 people were granted program eligibility and thus medical and prescription coverage much to the staff’s satisfaction.
“Some days I’m so tired I want to quit…but I love my job…I love helping people, especially the children and manamko.”
Merry Christmas to the CNMI’s Medicaid program and may the tide of madness recede for this devoted and under-appreciated office in the New Year.
