Bill requires inclusion of all hospitals in GovGuam contract
The speaker of the legislature has introduced a measure meant to address concerns that the island's only private hospital would be cut out of the GovGuam health insurance contract.
Bill 3-34, introduced by Speaker Benjamin Cruz, would limit the plans submitted to the governor for approval to just the least expensive option. While negotiations would still consider non-exclusive and exclusive options, the least-expensive plan would likely fall under an exclusive deal with one of Guam's providers. A public hearing for the bill was held on Feb. 10.
According to Eric Plinske, director of corporate affairs at the Guam Regional Medical City, this would likely mean insurance providers would cut the private hospital from their in-network coverage because of the hospital's higher rates, in order to remain competitive. This would affect more than 25,000 GovGuam employees, retirees and dependents, Plinske argued, as the private hospital provides certain specialty services not available anywhere else on the island.
While he stopped short of saying GRMC would leave Guam if it was dropped by insurance providers to participate in the government health care contract, Plinske said it would place a serious strain on the hospital's viability.
Read more: https://www.postguam.com/news/local/bill-requires-inclusion-of-all-hospitals-in-govguam-contract/article_559a5ef2-f298-11e6-9bb3-63faf96688e9.html