Guam’s Medicaid program is getting national recognition for a major step forward in health care modernization. The National Association of Medicaid Directors has awarded the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services its 2025 Spotlight Award for innovative collaboration to upgrade the territory’s Medicaid IT system.

The honor highlights Guam’s partnership with West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands, a team effort that secured more than $39 million in federal funding and launched a new pharmacy benefit management system — improving access to critical medications for over 43,000 Medicaid beneficiaries.

Officials say the modernization reduces delays, cuts administrative costs, strengthens fraud detection, and streamlines claim processing — all while improving patient care.

Public Health director and Medicaid director Theresa Arriola calls the initiative a transformational shift that delivers faster, more reliable care — especially during emergencies and times of crisis.

The award was presented at the NAMD Conference in Washington, D.C., where Guam leaders also joined a national panel discussing how cross-state collaboration is shaping the future of Medicaid systems across the country.