by Mindy Aguon

Guam - As lawmakers crunch the numbers for the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz is wondering why the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse hasn't submitted its fee schedule that was expected two months ago. The department developed the list of fees to begin billing individuals or their insurance companies for a range of services that have been provided free of charge for years.

Cruz says implementation of the fee schedule will save millions and could be a way to cut costs without cutting employee's benefits or jeopardizing the retirement fund. KUAM News spoke with director Wilfred Aflague, who says they just completed the economic impact statement last week. Mental health estimates that once the fees are implemented, they will generate revenues of between $9 million and $12 million. The schedule is currently under review at the Attorney General's Office and should be forwarded to the governor by next week.