Guthertz raises concern over health insurance issue

by Nick Delgado

Guam - More concerns over the government of Guam's health insurance provider, as Senator Judi Guthertz is reminding acting Department of Administration director Benita Manglona that current statutes require legislative approval of the accepted proposals before the final selection of a health insurance provider is made. She explained the Organic Act provides the legislature appropriate and authorize expenditures of GovGuam, which is why she wrote public law 30-227 also known as the healthcare transparency act.

Guthertz states, "I, as well as my colleagues expected to be able to review these proposals and discuss the final selection of health insurance providers. It is critical that we know the amount expected, or at the very least, the ballpark figure of 2012 Healthcare Insurance costs for the government of Guam so that our government is not unduly burdened as it was this past fiscal year."

She adds, "If the negotiating team and administration have absolute say in the selection process of the proposals, then we are in effect providing a blank check to the selected carriers. This is not right and is in direct contravention of accepted program budgeting and financial management standards of GovGuam!" Guthertz recalls during Manglona's confirmation hearing, she committed to following the latest provisions of the law. She states, "Based on media reports and a statement from the AG regarding a review of the protest, it seems that the negotiating team has already selected a provider. I trust that this is not the case as my colleagues and I look forward to receiving these proposals as mandated no later than July 31, 2011." 

Guthertz says she was assured DOA would follow the current law that allows the negotiating team to select and review the best available proposals accepted and forward them to the governor and legislature for final approval.