LBJ CEO says American Samoa hospital needs more money -- one way: eliminate "free service"
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — LBJ Medical Center chief executive officer Faumuina John Faumuina has called on lawmakers to revisit the current law that requires the only medical center in the territory to provide “free medical attention” to the public.
Faumuina made the request last week during the hospital’s fiscal year 2019 budget hearing before the Fono Joint Budget Committee, where he also pointed out that LBJ is proposing in the new fiscal year budget allocation, a Behavior Health Center.
At the outset of the hearing there were discussions and questions regarding the difference in LBJ’s budget document provided by the hospital, which shows a total of about $50 million, while ASG’s FY 2019 budget summary under the Enterprise Fund shows a total of $46.84 million for the hospital.
Faumuina stressed that LBJ’s proposal is $50 million but the ASG Budget Office had requested to reduce it by $4 million. His response was for the Budget Office to reduce it themselves since they made the request.
Read more: http://www.samoanews.com/local-news/lbj-ceo-says-hospital-needs-more-money-one-way-eliminate-free-service