The newly formed Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., for its part, should apply directly for new grants in fiscal year 2013, he added.
In an interview, Inos said the government as the recipient of federal health grants, will hold the corporation accountable for the use of the funds.
The ongoing federal programs are still set up pursuant to the grant application of Public Health.
“Programs don’t change simply because they’re now under the corporation,” Inos said.
“And so given that they remain the same, it would seem more appropriate that the corporation document the operation of these grants,” he added.
In a meeting with Inos and Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta recently, public health medical director Daniel Lamar expressed concern about federally funded preventive programs.
He said these are equally important as hospital services.
Inos said he is aware of the proposal in the Legislature to amend the Healthcare Corp. law, “but it appears that other areas still have to be addressed depending on the findings and the experiences of the corporation since it took charge.”
He said the corporation needs enough time to come up with ideas regarding what functions are transferred to the executive branch.
Asked if it will be more difficult to apply for federal health grants now, Inos said “No.”
The corporation can prepare the application as the grantee. The Commonwealth Utilities Corp., he noted, receives federal grants.
