Hundreds of Guamanians could be affected by soaring medical bills

Congressional lawmakers are pushing for the Department of Defense to help civilians who are burdened with huge medical costs for emergency care at military facilities on American soil. And one national report indicates that there could be as many as 500 people on Guam who may be impacted by those soaring bills.

 

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Joaquin Castro are sounding the alarm, writing to the Department of Defense citing a Government Accountability Office report that says the DOD "may be misleading or misinforming civilians about debt they incur when they receive emergency medical care at military health care facilities."

The lawmakers say more can be done within DOD's authority to waive and reduce debt and educate civilian patients who might need the care and equipment available at a military hospital about their options for financial relief. 

The report lists the Naval Hospital on Guam as one of 44 Medical Treatment Facilities across the globe.

According to DOD data cited in the 55 page report, The Naval Hospital on Guam sees an average of 250 to 500 civilian emergency patients per fiscal year. It's unclear how much debt patients on Guam have. 

But what we do know is that of the 26,696 civilian medical debt cases GAO reviewed, only 0.1 percent were reduced. That's a staggering number given that 67 percent of civilians who received treatment did not have insurance. The report says that the Navy is the only one who confirmed approving waivers from FY2016 to FY2021. 

KUAM has reached out to the Naval Hospital on Guam for comment.