Further, all inter-island air transport cost for both patients and their escorts will be transferred to the mayor’s account.
“Subsistence allowance will no longer be available to both medical referral patients and escorts. All inter-island air transport cost for patient/escort was transferred to the respective mayor’s account. The above emergency amendments were required to ensure the fiscal viability of the medical referral program and patients’ medical care and treatment unavailable in the CNMI are met due to the current economic condition,” the department said in a public notice.
The emergency rules took effect on Feb. 1, 2011 and will last for 120 days. They are likely to be adopted permanently due to the economic crisis.
Public health made the decision as the CNMI government continues to face difficulties in meeting its payroll obligation and other basic public services.
According to the notice published in the Commonwealth Register, medical referral patients who earn $50,000 or more a year should pay for the airfare 100 percent.
Those earning between $25,000 and $50,000, should pay 50 percent of the airfare and those whose annual income is below $25,000 or is considered an indigent will get 100 percent airfare assistance from the medical referral services program.
Medical referral patients’ escorts should pay 50 percent of their airfare. Further, “No escort will be authorized if patient or designated escort made over $50,000 within the last 12 months prior to approval.”
In a report submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee, the department reported that it spent more than $6.4 million on medical referral expenses from fiscal years 2007 to 2009.
The figure did not include professional fees paid to doctors and hospitals in the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, where local patients were referred for treatment.
The $6.4 million spent for medical referrals covered 2,188 patients, some of whom had repeat referrals.
Some of them were airlifted through private helicopters owned by Americopter and Carejet because of limited carriers serving the Saipan route on a regular basis.
The report showed majority of the patients underwent radiology, oncology and cardiology procedures.
Oncology was the second most common procedure performed among the medical referrals.
The same report showed the U.S. and CNMI governments additionally spent hundreds of dollars for the medical escorts of the patients.
