One group is saying cancer patients are being denied care while the University of Guam's Guam Cancer Trust Fund continues to award grants to other nonprofits that assist cancer patients. At issue-a problem with Guam Cancer Care's application.

According to UOG, Guam Cancer Care should not have assumed it would automatically receive a grant from the Guam Cancer Trust Fund, and the nonprofit is responsible for any expenses it made after its grant contract expired.

The nonprofit alleged cancer patients are being denied care because the Cancer Trust hasn't renewed its grant.

But grants aren't just automatically renewed every year, and UOG said Guam Cancer Care's application was delayed because the Trust Fund "had issues and concerns with its application.

Public Auditor BJ Cruz chimed in, telling KUAM UOG is right.

"The thing that needs to be emphasized is that Guam Cancer Care did not have a new grant on October," he said. "The media should very carefully read what the University response has been. Guam Cancer Care could not and should not have assumed that the Trust Fund was going to be responsible for the expenses they were incurring during that period."

While Guam Cancer Care's application has been approved, the Public Auditor and UOG's legal counsel both say it would be illegal to give Guam Cancer Care its grant retroactively to Oct. 1, 2019, which is exactly what Guam Cancer Care wants.

A recent audit of the Cancer Trust fund found that "nonprofit A" spent 56% of its grant money on personnel costs. Terry Cuabo of Guam Cancer Care confirmed with KUAM that Guam Cancer Care is "nonprofit A."

Because of the audit findings, the Trust Fund has strengthened its rules, regulations and reporting requirements. That means nonprofits have to show they're using their grant money to directly benefit cancer patients.

So basically, the Trust Fund - which came under fire in the audit findings too - is doing its part to ensure grants it gives to nonprofits are going where they're supposed to be going - to help those fighting cancer.

And Health Chair senator Therese Terlaje says she's all in for accountability.

"I support the work that they're doing in that regard. I think we do need to put in some safeguards," she said. "They're trying to enforce that the money be spent on direct services versus administrative costs or personnel. We are here to support the nonprofits in their endeavors, but we want this money to go to the patients."

Terlaje said she hopes Guam Cancer Care and the Cancer Trust fund can settle their differences.

UOG spokesman Jonas Macapinlac told KUAM the Cancer Trust fund is getting much-needed grants out to nonprofits who assist cancer fighters. The university adds the Trust has approved applications from the American Cancer Society, the Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation and the Ayuda Foundation, awarding $1.7 million to these groups for "direct service to cancer patients."