Legislative resolution declares GMH in 'extreme emergency'

Senators passed a resolution declaring an "extreme emergency" at the Guam Memorial Hospital.

Lawmakers wanted to call in GMH management to answer questions about a gaping financial hole, but they were a no-show.

Lawmakers even recessed the morning session to give time for hospital management to show up in the afternoon. But as 2 p.m. rolled around without any GMH representatives, senators had nothing left to do but call a vote.

The Republicans who drafted the resolution declaring an extreme emergency at the hospital were joined by Speaker Therese Terlaje and fellow democrat Chris Barnett in passing the measure.

Democrats Joe San Agustin, Will Parkinson, and Roy Quinata voted no. 

Four senators were absent.

After that, senators reversed course from yesterday and opted to reconsider Sen. Jesse Lujan's bill to provide emergency funding to GMH  to cover some $30 million in overdue payables.

This time GMH management did show up, along with administration financial officials. 

The Lujan bill directs that any Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 excess general fund revenues to GMH.

Long story short, budget director Lester Carlson says there is enough to cover the hospital's arrears.

"We were able to take 23 funds, and you'll see where they came from, to cobble together $ 30 million without touching 24 whatsoever," he said. 

The governor has previously indicated her support for the measure.

To be exact, GMH says the overdue payables amount to $28.8 million. 

And the hospital also has some $40 million in receivables to collect.

Deliberations on the bill were continuing as of late Thursday.