THE ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and health directors from the insular areas are supporting the CNMI’s request for a federal review of current health facilities and programs in the commonwealth and other Pacific islands.
Sen. Frank H. Murkowski of Alaska informed Gov. Juan N. Babauta that the assistant secretary for policy, management and budget of the Department of the Interior, P. Lynn Scarlett, was able to secure support from the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association during its recent meeting in Majuro, the Marshall Islands.
“(T)he health directors supported a review of the quality care available at the jurisdictions’ hospitals in order to help pinpoint areas of needed improvement,” Murkowski said in his letter to Babauta.
It was Babauta who requested for a review of the region’s health programs and facilities last year while still the CNMI’s Washington representative.
Babauta wants a “comprehensive review of the health care needs of the CNMI, Guam and the Freely Associated States (to) determine whether and to what extent a coordinated approach to health care can provide better services at a reduced cost.”
Mukwoski said Babauta’s request got the support of health officials in other insular areas that are now endorsing similar efforts on their islands.
“I stand ready to assist you in any way I can as you pursue this very worthy endeavor,” Murkowski added.
