|
|
Federal Re-designations will Bring Medical Expertise and Program Resources to Guam |
|
November 28, 2008
Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D. announces Guam's recent re-designations as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), as well as, a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HPSA designation is a program designed to recruit and retain health professionals by allowing physicians holding J-1 visa's to practice in underserved areas. HPSA status is granted to areas that demonstrate a need in one or more of the following categories: primary care (including family and general practitioners, pediatricians, obstetricians, and general internists in allopathic or osteopathic practice), mental health and dental care.
"As the baby-boomer generation nears retirement age, the need for doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals grows larger, while our capacity to recruit them contracts," said Acting Governor Cruz. "These designations give us the edge we need to compete with a world hungry for healthcare expertise."
In addition, Guam has also gained designation as a Medically Underserved Area which now provides an option for state-side doctors to work-off a portion of their medical education loans by serving as a physician on Guam.
"Our mission is to make healthcare better for everyone and we will use every tool available to accomplish this," said the Acting Governor. "I want to thank Governor Camacho, the men and women of the Department of Public health and Social Services for their tireless work on this effort."
Though Guam has benefited from these designations in the past, a change in federal procedures has required that Guam re-obtain them.
|
|
Fishing Legislation Vetoed |
|
November 26, 2008
Governor Felix P. Camacho today vetoed Bill 327, which would have created a task force to create new rules for indigenous fishermen.
"I sympathize with the need to address the rights of our local population and ensure that our traditions are carried on to future generations," Governor Camacho wrote in his veto message. "However, this bill poses too many unanswered questions and could cause major harm to the very resources that our culture is so intimately tied to."
The bill called for a new "Indigenous Native Resources Task Force" to work on rules providing Chamorros with special rights to off-shore fishing and harvesting of resources. In his veto message, the Governor noted that the legislation provides little direction for the task force to accomplish a major task in a very short period of time.
Further, the bill could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding, provides no support for the new tasks required, and could reverse more than a decade of progress in Guam's marine preserve system, he added.
"Bill 327 raises the very real possibility that these preserves could be opened to significant fishing pressure, potentially destroying in a short time frame what has taken more than a decade to achieve. Without healthy fish stocks, cultural fishing traditions cannot exist," the Governor wrote.
|
|
Governor Signs Bill 383 into Law |
|
Expresses concerns over Guatali rider
November 25, 2008
Governor Felix P. Camacho this evening signed Bill 383 into law which now gives the green light for the government to move forward with financing the $20 Million Ordot consent decree payment mandated by the U.S. District Court.
Public Law 29-116 has a rider attached to it which was authored by Senator Benjamin J. Cruz and was linked to the financing bill without the benefit of a public hearing.
"I signed this bill quickly because of the need to comply with the Consent Decree and the opportunity to take advantage of current bond market conditions," Governor Camacho said. "However, I have serious concerns with the Guatali rider authored by Senator Cruz that did not have a public hearing. As it stands, we don't know the full impact of this rider which is still under legal review by my office and the Office of the Attorney General."
The Governor signed the law because it approves financing of the $20 Million through the bond market or through a loan.
The other bills transmitted to the Governor for action are still under review.
|
|
|
First Lady Joann G. Camacho tomorrow will join local author Frances Baumann in presenting copies of her recently-published children's book "Ramon on the Phone" to the Guam Public Library System. The book, which also includes an activity supplement, was written to help increase awareness about physical fitness and to promote healthy lifestyles among Guam's youth.
First Lady Camacho and Mrs. Baumann will present copies of "Ramon on the Phone" to the Guam Public Library System tomorrow, November 24, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. at the Barrigada Public Library across from the San Vicente Catholic Church.
|
|
|
Territorial Governors Urge US Senators to Consider Equitable Federal Medical Assistance
|
|
Territorial Governors Urge US Senators to Consider Equitable Federal Medical Assistance Percentage Increases for Insular Areas in Economic Stimulus Legislation
November 21, 2008
Governor Felix P. Camacho joined voices with Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Benigno Fitial and U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh, Jr. in requesting fair and equitable treatment for the U.S. insular territories regarding Federal Medical Assistance Percentage temporary increases.
In a letter addressed to Senator Orrin Hatch, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance; Senator Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader; and Senator John Rockefeller, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, the territorial governors requested that the economic stimulus legislation, now under consideration by the Senate, include the insular areas in the temporary increases for federal medical assistance.
"As you know, the States and Territories are faced with soaring health care burdens and costs as a result of the rapidly deteriorating economic situation," the governors said in a letter dated November 17, 2008. "As Governors of the insular areas of the United States, we urge you to support modification of the FMAP provisions in any stimulus bill enacted by the Congress to reflect the actual health care needs of our residents and our respective Medicaid programs."
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Federal Commissioner Seeks to Help Gov Guam And NGO's Fund and Develop Community Services |
November 19, 2008
After meeting with Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D. and other community organizations, Quanah Crossland Stamps, Federal Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) continued meetings today with community leader Debbie Quinata Maga Haga of I Nasion Chamoru and the CMTF sub-committee on Health and Social Services.
"In an effort to put our people first, we will continue to seek every expertise and source of funding to meet the needs of our community," said Debbie Quinata.
Commissioner Stamps visit to Guam is a result of a partnership between the government of Guam and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Social Services.
"The ANA has a track record of helping NGOs have a greater voice and strengthen their capacity to serve a community," said Acting Governor Cruz. "We appreciate their willingness to aid our native rights organizations by identifying funding programs which strengthen our island culture and community."
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
GOVERNOR CAMACHO ATTENDS 10th MICRONESIAN CHIEF EXECUTIVES SUMMIT |
|
Discussions on creating a Pacific Health District and support for Guam's seaport expansion is focus of two-day Summit meetings in Pohnpei
November 19, 2008
(Palikir, Pohnpei FSM) Governor Felix P. Camacho is in attendance at the 10th Micronesian Chief Executives Summit. Governor Camacho is in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) for the bi-annual meetings with FSM President and Chairman Manny Mori, Republic of Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr., Republic of the Marshall Islands President Litokwa Tomeing and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Benigno Fitial. Also joining the 10th Summit is Yap State Governor Sebastian Anefal, Kosrae State Governor Robert Weilbacher, Pohnpei State Governor John Ehsa and Chuuk State Governor Wesley Simia.
"This is a significant meeting as we finally have all the leaders from all of Micronesia in one room to discuss issues of mutual concern for the peoples of the Northern Pacific," said Governor Camacho.
The two-day meetings at the COM-FSM Conference Facility in Palikir will focus on a number of issues including the formalized creation of the Micronesia Center for Sustainable Future, bulk fuel and pharmaceutical purchase agreements for Micronesia and the establishment of trade policy between the islands and neighboring countries.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Governor Submits Legislation to Authorize Consent Decree Financing |
Legislation proposes options to meet $20 million Consent Decree mandate by January 2009 November 18, 2008 Governor Felix P. Camacho today transmitted legislation that, if passed, would authorize the government of Guam to secure the financing needed to meet a Consent Decree mandate to deposit $20 million to a trustee designated by the Receiver, Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. by January 5, 2009. The legislation submitted proposes the reprogramming of deficit financing bond funds and, as an alternative, authorizes the government to acquire a $20 million loan should market conditions prevent bond financing. "Time is of the essence," Governor Camacho stated in his transmittal letter to the 29th Guam Legislature. "The Legislature must act quickly in the deliberation and disposition of the proposed legislation and enable the Administration to provide the Twenty Million Dollars ordered by the District Court of Guam." |
|
| | << Start < Prev 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Next > End >>
| | Results 280 - 288 of 415 |
A Message from the Governor of Guam
|
