THE Commonwealth Medicaid Agency is terminating its intergovernmental cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaii’s Telecommunications and Social Informatics Research Program.
Formerly known as the Telecommunications and Information Policy Group or TIPG, TASI is a component of the Social Science Research Institute of UH’s College of Social Science dedicated to “strengthening and advancing the local, regional and international initiatives and collaborative opportunities.”
TASI conducts, facilitates and supports basic and applied research into information and communication technology policy, regulation, technology systems and applications in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands Region. Its areas of research include distance learning, telehealth and health information technology and its application in rural and remote communities within Hawaii and the Pacific Island economies.
On Feb. 6, 2025, Commonwealth Medicaid Director George Cruz wrote TASI Director Christina Higa a letter informing her that the CNMI Medicaid Agency “shall be invoking” its right to suspend their agreement “for any reasonable period, upon a 60-day written notice.”
Cruz thanked Higa for taking the time “to discuss and share my frustrations” regarding the current state of their agreement. He did not elaborate.
The suspension of the agreement will take effect on April 7, 2025.
During the transition period, Cruz said the CNMI team will be working with UH-TASI team to complete all necessary assignments as CNMI Medicaid continues to move forward with its projects related to health information technology.
As of press time Monday evening, no further details were available regarding CNMI Medicaid’s decision.
Medicaid is a government-funded healthcare program that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families. It is jointly funded by the federal government and individual states/territories, including the CNMI.