THE House of Representatives on Friday last week passed House Bill 23-60 which would re-appropriate a portion of Imperial Pacific International’s last payment of exclusive casino license fee in 2018 to fund the Health Network Program or HNP, previously known as the medical referral services.
In June 2018, then-Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed Public Law 20-61, appropriating the $15 million in exclusive casino license fee that IPI paid that year for various government projects and programs.
Of the $15 million, P.L. 20-61 appropriated $1,085,000 for the architectural and engineering design, and construction of a new solid waste transfer station in the southern part of Saipan.
Authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao, H.B. 23-60 would re-appropriate that amount to fund the HNP.
Prior to the roll call vote, Attao proposed a floor amendment to his bill, re-appropriating “the remaining funds of $881,987…provided that…$50,000 shall be reserved for inter-island medical referrals.
All 18 House members present voted yes.
House Floor Leader Edwin Propst and Rep. Marissa Flores were excused.
Attao said the HNP is in dire need of additional funds for patients seeking medical treatment off-island.
During the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna and Chief Financial Officer Perlita Santos told the senators that the CNMI government must provide the HNP with $9.66 million.
They also said that CHCC needs: $1.51 million to address a projected revenue shortfall and support CHCC operations including Tinian Health Center and Rota Health Center; $7.15 million for the local match for certified public expenditures; and $4.52 million for capital expenditures.
