GMH still waiting on word

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - No news is good news for the Guam Memorial Hospital, which has yet to hear back from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. The hospital submitted a corrective plan of action more than a week ago CMS had a scathing report after conducting a survey of the Skilled Nursing Facility in Barrigada Heights back in January.

As a result of various Life Safety Code violations and concerns about nursing, patient confidentiality and the administration of the SNU, the CMS imposed a $100 per day fine to the hospital.  Additionally they will no longer pay for new admissions after April 26.

Interim hospital administrator Rey Vega says they will be following up with CMS this week to see if the corrective action plan is sufficient and if they will approve an August 31 deadline to fix deficiencies noted for Life Safety Code violations.

Vega says they also intend to ask for a waiver of the daily fines and hope that new admissions will be covered.