Rodriguez crafts bill to pay off GMH's debt

by Krystal Paco

Guam - Committee on Health chair Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. introduced legislation today set to pay off the Guam Memorial Hospital's multimillion dollar debt. The GMH Healthcare Trust and Development Act of 2013 addresses the hospital's chronic financial shortcomings by providing approximately $8.5 million annual revenue stream to GMH, funded by a 4% fee assessed on premiums collected by health insurance companies that do business on Guam.

Bill 20 meanwhile helps fund management and operational reforms and reduce the strain placed on the hospital's Emergency Room Department by building an urgent or primary care center. Go to GuamLegislature.com to read the bill.