Legislative Inquiry on the Department of Public Health
Attached in this email are two documents related to the inquiry begun by the Health, Education & Welfare Committee on the Department of Public Health, and in particular on the Commonwealth Health Center. The first is the final survey report prepared by HEW Chair Rep. Ralph Torres; the second is the subpoena duces tecum issued by the HEW Committee to Acting Secretary of Public Health/Deputy Secretary for Hospital Adminstration, Pedro T. Untalan.
The subpoena duces tecum includes questions prepared by the HEW members, covering CHC management, medical supplies and equipment, hospital billings and collections, medical records, and the surgery department, hemodialysis unit, intensive care unit, nursing department, and psychiatric unit and transitional living center. Responses to these questions were due by October 9, 2009.
Thus far, DPH's response to the committee's inquiry appears to be extremely and unacceptably deficient. None of the 200+ questions was actually answered in writing as ordered by the HEW Committee, and so far the documents that have been provided are a rather jumbled compilation of records. The submitted records include:
- a 2001 memo from the Civil Service Commission on austerity measures;
- two DPH responses to deficiencies identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, dated May 2006;
- a listing of federally funded programs at DPH;
- organizational charts for Health Information Management and Medical Referral Services;
- Medical Referral statistics, a fiscal summary report, and list of Medical Referral medical providers/vendors;
- Contract and renewal change orders for Medical Referral Logical Support in the Philippines, provided by Saipan Employment Agency and Services Inc. (2007 to present); and
- Contract and Notice of Personnel Action for CHC's Orthopedic Surgeon, effective January 2009.
There was no cover letter provided, nor any indication of the specific questions to which the documents were intended to be responsive.
Mr. Untalan has further been ordered to appear and testify at oversight hearings scheduled for October 14 @ 2pm; October 15 @ 9am; and October 16 @ 9am in the House Chamber. It is my understanding that a request has been made to postpone the hearings, as Mr. Untalan apparently has a medical appointment in the Philippines this week. The HEW Committee has decided, however, to move forward with the hearings as scheduled, and expects the Acting Acting Secretary, John Tagabuel, and DPH managers to attend.
The committee has scheduled a meeting this afternoon, Tuesday, October 13 @ 1:30pm in the Speaker's Conference Room to review the documents and prepare for the hearings this week. Members of the HEW committee include: Reps. Ralph Torres (Chair); Dave Apatang (Vice Chair); Edwin Aldan; Ray Palacios; Justo Quitugua; Joseph Reyes; and Ed Salas.
The Department of Public Health's unresponsiveness to the legislative inquiry is alarming. It is also revealing in that it further underscores the glaring vacuum of leadership that has been created by Secretary Joseph Villagomez's months-long absence, the constant rotation of acting Secretaries that has occurred in his place, and the signals from the Governor of his intent to declare a state of emergency and take over operations at the hospital.
But where is Secretary Villagomez? I understand that he is dealing with personal medical issues of his own, and certainly we should all extend our sympathies and compassion to him and his family and hope for his recovery. In the meantime, however, what is to become of the hospital, and of all the people of the CNMI who are also suffering from illnesses and injuries of their own? The lack of stable and professional management at CHC and the resulting deterioration of healthcare services are clearly and gravely endangering the health and safety of the entire community.
If Secretary Villagomez is unable to carry out his duties, then we must ask him to resign. And we must further urge that the Governor appoint a qualified, experienced, and credible Secretary of Public Health to take his place -- one who would be prepared and empowered to assemble a professional management team to address the serious problems that plague the Department of Public Health and our hospital.
I urge all concerned members of the public to attend the hearings scheduled this week, and to submit any documents, questions, or testimonies of their own to assist the HEW Committee in its inquiry.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tina Sablan
