Governor allows GMH to borrow money for bills

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Knowing it's not the answer to the Guam Memorial Hospital's critical financial condition, Governor Felix Camacho signed Bill 479 into law today as a band aid solution.  The governor says the fundamental problem is the inability for the hospital to pay its vendors.

Such has resulted in a shortage of linens and supplies at GMH.  "I signed it into law to give them the flexibility," the governor told KUAM News. "It doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to be able to pull it off - if they can get one million dollars in approval from the Bank of Guam, good for them. But in the long-term, where do they find the money if they can't pay the vendors?"

Camacho admits he understands that the hospital's accreditation is on the line and encourages GMH to resolve pending issues with insurance companies and implement fees to help recover costs.