In an interview on Friday, Inos said the $18 million projected revenue of the Commonwealth Health Center could reach $20 million or more depending on how the CNMI’s only hospital manages its financial resources.
“We want to make sure that they can bill more and collect all the bills,” he said.
The Department of Public Health will be transformed into a public corporation on Oct. 1—the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said CHC is “working diligently” to collect from everyone who owes it money.
He estimated that CHC’s average monthly collection ranges from $2 million to $3 million.
Due to poor economy, he said the hospital is seeing a higher rate of self-pay from people who used to have health insurance but gave it up.
“They are still paying us. So that is a good trend. We will be working diligently and focusing hard in making sure that we collect for whatever we bill for,” he added.
CHC also has to cut costs and ensure that its personnel are working efficiently, he said.
The Rota and Tinian health centers will be “absorbed” by the healthcare corporation, Inos said.
This will allow the administration to deal with its financial situation more effectively, he added.
Nurses Week
Villagomez also noted that 112 nursing assistants who are seniors of Southern High School will graduate from the nursing assistant program.
On Friday, Inos signed a proclamation designating June 12 to 18 as CNMI Nurses Week.
“I appreciate the hard work that the nursing profession has contributed to our healthcare system,” he said.
According to his proclamation, “The demand for nursing service will be greater than ever because of the aging of the population, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technology, and the explosive growth of home health care services.”
In an interview, Villagomez said his department will be launching more community health services and outreach programs.
He said they have dispatched at least two medical staff members to the Marpi landfill since federal and local authorities began conducting a search for any clues regarding the disappearance of Maleina, 9, and Faloma, 10, Luhk on May 25.
Because of the hot weather condition, the medical team, he said, will monitor the investigators’ blood pressure to “make sure their health is being taken care of.”
