by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Memorial Hospital's Skilled Nursing Unit facility isn't quite making the grade. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services recently visited the Barrigada facility and they weren't pleased with what they found. The hospital meanwhile contends it's back on track in correcting the deficiencies, but the CMS has already imposed some "remedies" that aren't good for the hospital.

GMH is being charged a penalty of $100 a day and will no longer be paid for new Medicare and Medicaid admissions beginning in April. The actions are a result of a scathing survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services back in January at the Skilled Nursing Unit in Barrigada. The hospital has a March 26 deadline to develop a plan to correct a number of deficiencies that were noted during the centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services' January visit to the Barrigada Skilled Nursing Unit facility. The hospital received the official notice of findings from the visit on Monday, and it was noted that the SNU "was not in substantial compliance with federal requirements".

CMS was very critical of the SNU operations, specifically with nursing and compliance with policies and procedures. There were also multiple Life and Safety Code violations.

Interim hospital administrator Rey Vega says funding has been prioritized for the SNU to make sure the mission is fulfilled. Vega says GMH is already implementing the recommendations of the surveyors.

Shortly after the survey, SNU administrator Dr. John Steele was fired from his position, but hospital officials would not confirm the reasons for his termination.

GMH officials have until the 26th of this month to submit their corrective action plan. Last year CMS found numerous deficiencies at the hospital and threatened to withhold federal funding. Corrective action however was taken.