House Bill 17-71, which will allow foreign doctors to practice here, was passed by a vote of 19-0. Saipan Republican Reps. Tony P. Sablan and Frank S. Dela Cruz voted “yes” with reservations while Rep. Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian, was absent.
The same bill was defeated by a 7 to 9 vote last week, with those opposed saying they did not have enough information about the measure, which was introduced by Rep. Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan.
Villagomez yesterday appeared before the House members upon the invitation of Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, and answered questions about the administration-backed bill, which now goes to the Senate.
He assured lawmakers that H.B. 17-71 provides for a procedure to ensure that foreign doctors allowed to practice here are qualified, have the necessary credentials and are board certified.
The bill, he added, will also show officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that the CNMI is in dire need of medical professionals.
Villagomez said the CNMI must have a pool of doctors to address the people’s healthcare needs.
Right now, he added, “we can only hire from the U.S. but [the doctors from the states] have ‘out-priced’ themselves — we cannot afford them.”
Sablan said he was not “comfortable” with the bill because it might contradict federal laws, particularly those enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to Villagomez, the DEA requires U.S. physicians to be registered with the agency which then assigns each doctor with a number. The Commonwealth Health Center, he said, has a DEA number and CNMI-licensed foreign doctors can use it.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, asked Villagomez if licensing foreign doctors could affect Public Health’s ability to receive federal grants.
Villagomez said as long as the foreign doctors are licensed here, their presence won’t jeopardize federal programs in the CNMI.
Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said the bill is simply telling the federal government what the CNMI needs to do in order to address its healthcare needs.
“We should approve this bill because we need it,” he added.
