FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 23, 2025 – Hagåtña, Guam) – “On behalf of the Guam Legislature, we stand in solemn remembrance of those who endured the devastating effects of radiation exposure, and we renew our commitment to advocating for justice and recognition for all affected, including the people of Guam,” Senator Therese M. Terlaje.
Senator Terlaje invites the community to join her and her colleagues on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 12PM at the Guam Congress Building, Public Hearing Room, for a special presentation in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance for Downwinders. This event honors the individuals who were impacted by U.S. nuclear testing and endured the effects of radiation exposure, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary cancers of the: thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, liver (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated), and lung.
Guam residents were exposed as Downwinders from nuclear testing in the Pacific from 1946 to 1962, and seven (7) of the top ten (10) adult cancers in Guam are those compensable for some jurisdictions under the U.S. Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors (PARS) and the Guam Legislature continue to advocate for the inclusion of Guam in the RECA.
Let us remember those we’ve lost, support the survivors, and continue to push for justice and recognition for all impacted.
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For more information, please contact Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 22, 2025 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Senator Therese M. Terlaje has successfully secured funds for the 18% salary increases for nurses at the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC).
Senator Terlaje previously passed an amendment to the FY2025 budget which gives $198,197 of excess revenues to GBHWC “for payment of the eighteen percent (18%) increase in the Nurse’s Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2025”. The Government of Guam passed an 18% pay increase on April 1, 2024, for nurse salaries, as recommended by a wage study conducted by the Department of Administration. However, the salary increase was not accounted for in GBHWC’s budget request nor the budget bill reported out by the Committee on Appropriations. Senator Terlaje’s proactive efforts ensure that nurses at GBHWC receive the 18% pay increase they deserve and ensure they are fairly compensated for their critical work.
The December 2024 Consolidated Revenue and Expenditures Report (CRER) revealed that the government so far collected $21.8 million more than projected for FY2025. During budget deliberations, then-Speaker Terlaje accurately predicted higher-than-adopted government revenues based on historical trends of collections from past budgets. Senator Terlaje attempted to raise the overall budget of GovGuam so that more agencies could get the funding they need. However, the lack of support from some colleagues left essential agencies such as the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) waiting until the release of the CRER to obtain much needed funds.
“Supporting our nurses is a matter of ensuring quality healthcare for our island. These raises are long overdue and show that we as an island are valuing the dedication and sacrifices of those on the frontlines of mental health and wellness” Senator Terlaje said.
This funding reflects Senator Terlaje’s continued dedication to addressing healthcare and workforce needs for Guam’s residents.
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For more information, please contact Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 22, 2025 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Senator Therese Terlaje’s critical amendment to the FY2025 budget will now come into effect to continue and enhance services for individuals with disabilities with the December Consolidated Revenue and Expenditure Report (CRER) showing $21.8M in excess revenues for the first quarter of FY2025.
During the legislative discussions for the FY2025 budget, DISID submitted a formal request to the Chairman on Appropriations to “urgently request” for an increase of $375,000 needed to sustain operations “and meet the growing needs of our clients”. This vital funding for enhancement of services such as group homes, in-home services, and day services that directly benefit individuals with disabilities was not included in the bill as reported by the Appropriations Committee.
Recognizing the urgency of DISID’s appeal and understanding the essential services that DISID provides to the island community, Senator Terlaje amended the FY2025 Budget Act to give $375,000 in excess revenues needed to meet the department’s operational demands.
“While I would have preferred that DISID’s request was fully addressed from the start of the fiscal year with immediate funding, giving them excess revenues was the next best solution to get them the funding they urgently needed. The services are in high demand, and for persons with disabilities are critical to their quality of life.” Senator Terlaje stated.
This budget amendment is another example of solutions that support Guam’s essential agencies and address the needs of the island’s underserved populations.
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For more information, please contact Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 14, 2025 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Senator Therese M. Terlaje has re-introduced legislation to restore critical medical and family care services lost by the 2019 abrupt closing of the public health clinic in Mangilao. As pointed out during testimony by the Acting Chief Public Health Officer, the Mangilao facility was the sole location offering specific essential services. The facility housed critical resources, including a new X-ray machine, laboratory, dental office, and other vital equipment, all of which were left unused following its closure, leading to the discontinuation of those services. The Administrator for the Bureau of Family Health and Nursing Services also testified that only half as many pregnant patients were being cared for outside of the Mangilao facility and half as many patients treated for communicable disease as of January 2024, and urged the reopening of maternal health, communicable disease, blood testing, lab, x-ray, pharmacy, and dental services to address the critical need for accessible healthcare services in Guam. Bill No. 12-38(COR) proposes reserving Lot No. 2417-1-R7, the former Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) main building in Mangilao, for immediate use as a central health clinic. The legislation also authorizes continued partnership with federally funded community health centers, and the Guam Community College Nursing Program, to strengthen Guam’s healthcare workforce.
The Mangilao facility, which was forced to close in 2019 due to a fire, once served as a central hub for essential health services. Before its closure, the facility recorded over 8,300 service encounters annually, including nearly 1,800 women’s health services and 600 child health services. Since the facility’s closure, these numbers have plummeted by 49%, with child health services seeing a staggering 73% decline by 2023.
“This decline represents more than just numbers—it reflects families unable to access the care they need,” said Speaker Terlaje. If enacted, the bill will empower DPHSS to immediately rebuild its capacity to deliver comprehensive health services, mitigate barriers to care, and restore public trust in Guam’s healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, if the property is not utilized as intended within five years, the legislation ensures its transfer to Guam Community Health Centers to fulfill the same purpose.
“This bill aims to urgently restore the clinic and services that were lost, and directly address the disparities in healthcare suffered and rising since 2019,” Speaker Terlaje concluded.
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ATTACHED: Bill No. 12-38 (COR)
For more information, please contact Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 14, 2025 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Senator Therese M. Terlaje began off the 38th Guam Legislature with a bold initiative, introducing a bill on the first day of the new term to mandate a Public-Private Partnership (P3) for the Guam Memorial Hospital. This legislation aims to address critical challenges at GMHA, which would improve healthcare services for the people in Guam. (Bill was numbered and processed by the Clerk on January 13 as Bill No. 13-38(COR)).
The bill first creates a GMHA P3 Committee to oversee the development of a Request For Proposal (RFP) that defines the details of the Public-Private Partnership agreement and requires the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) to partner with a private organization to improve its management, operations, finances, and other key areas.
The idea of a Public-Private Partnership for GMH is not new and the bill is a cumulation of previous stakeholders’ input. It has been extensively studied or supported by key stakeholders, including the 2016 Guam Memorial Hospital Task Force, the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA), and the Executive Branch. In 2016, GEDA’s Request for Information (RFI 16-001) demonstrated strong interest from private organizations capable of, and interested in contributing to GMHA’s operations and management. While a bill previously introduced in the 35th Guam Legislature attempted to establish a Public-Private Partnership, the hospital’s leadership testified against it, citing concerns such as the hospital already being on a “path to improvement” and fears that a Public-Private Partnership would displace current personnel.
Bill No. 13-38(COR) addresses these concerns directly. It ensures protections for existing staff while recognizing that despite GMH’s efforts to improve, serious challenges persist. The bill protects the hardworking staff of GMH by including a provision to ensure that all non-management employees, including nurses and other critical personnel, retain their jobs and associated benefits, providing stability and continuity during the transition. The RFP to be developed will build on information gathered from GEDA’s current contract with a hospital consultant, audits pointing out flaws with previous consulting contracts and will address procurement and funding concerns.
As plans for a new hospital move forward, Senator Terlaje emphasizes that a modern building alone will not solve the deeper systemic issues facing GMH. Persistent challenges such as inefficient billing and collections processes, the need for a new Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, and outdated Medicare rebasing rates should be resolved well before a new hospital opens. A partnership with a private organization experienced in hospital management will provide the expertise needed to address these issues and ensure a smooth transition to a fully functional, state-of-the-art healthcare facility.
“A Public-Private Partnership offers the best path forward for GMH,” said Senator Terlaje. “It allows the government to ensure critical services like maternal care remain accessible, while bringing in private-sector expertise to improve efficiency and address long-standing challenges.” Senator Terlaje looks forward to the public hearing process when community members and stakeholders can share their input to help shape this critical health care initiative.
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ATTACHED: Bill No. 13-38(COR)
For more information, please contact Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com
Proposal for Magistrate Judge to Screen Malpractice Claims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 3, 2021 – Hagatña, Guam)— The Committee on Health announces a series of hearings and invites public input on Bill 112-36. The measure is intended for those harmed by medical negligence who cannot afford mandatory arbitration while ensuring confidential screening and protection of doctors against frivolous claims. The bill would enact a case screening system in place of costly Mandatory Arbitration. Costs of arbitration on top of cost of potential trial have deterred the filing of claims by those who cannot afford the upfront costs.
Bill 112-36 (COR):
– Replaces the costly three (3) person arbitration panel
– Allows a local magistrate to confidentially consider claims, consider expert testimony and identify frivolous claims
– Allows for alternative confidential arbitration or mediation with consent of both parties
– Applies only to those healing arts professions covered under the current MMMA Act
– Applies the current standard of care
– Continues application of the Government Claims Act for Government providers
Informational Hearing on Wednesday, June 23rd at 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.:
The Informational Hearing on June 23rd will feature an introduction of the bill and comparison with current mandatory arbitration law, provided by the bill’s sponsors, members of the Guam Bar Association, and malpractice insurance representatives.
Public Hearings on Wednesday, July 7th and Monday, July 12th at 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.:
Medical professionals and the public are invited to submit testimony on the bill on July 7th or July 12th at the Guam Congress Building or via Zoom. Those interested in presenting written or verbal testimony should contact the Office of Speaker Therese Terlaje at (671) 472-3586 or senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com by July 6, 2021.
All hearings will be broadcast on GTA TV Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117/112.4, and via Guam Legislature Media on Youtube. Recordings of the hearings will be available on the Guam Legislature Media YouTube Channel after the hearings.
The bipartisan Bill 112 was sponsored by Therese M. Terlaje, Telo T. Taitague, Joanne Brown, Tina Rose Muña Barnes, Joe S. San Agustin, V. Anthony Ada, Telena C. Nelson, Christopher M. Duenas, Clynton E. Ridgell, Amanda L. Shelton, Jose Pedo Terlaje, and Sabina F. Perez.
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Attachment: Bill No. 112-36(COR) – AN ACT TO ADD A NEW CHAPTER 10 TO DIVISION 1, TITLE 10, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED; TO ADD A NEW § 42A101(i)(20) TO CHAPTER 42A OF DIVISION 3, TITLE 7, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED; TO AMEND § 42A101(j) OF CHAPTER 42A, DIVISION 3, TITLE 7, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED; AND, TO REPEAL CHAPTER 10 OF DIVISION 1, TITLE 10, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED; ALL RELATIVE TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE IN THE TERRITORY OF GUAM.
Bill No. 430-35 (LS) Prioritizes Access to Justice for Victims and Fairness for Medical Community
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (December 15, 2020- Hagåtña, Guam)
Today, Health Oversight Chairperson Therese Terlaje and Minority Leader Telo Taitague introduced Bill No. 430-35 (LS) which replaces Guam’s nearly 30-year-old Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act (MMMAA) with a less costly pre-trial screening proposal. The MMMAA requires individuals claiming to have been victims of medical malpractice, to first arbitrate their complaint before filing suit in court.
If approved, Bill No. 430-35 (LS) allows a claimant (plaintiff) to file their claim in court where a Magistrate Judge is responsible for determining whether there is evidence to support the conclusion that a healthcare provider (defendant) failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care. The Magistrate Judge may consider expert testimony, and shall keep the complaint, proceedings, and opinion sealed until 30 days after issuance of opinion; however, the Magistrate may order the opinion sealed temporarily for an extended period or permanently upon agreement by the parties, if a trial is not pursued. Either party may pursue their right to a jury trial within 30 days after the Magistrate Judge renders his or her opinion by notifying the court of the party’s intent to proceed to trial.
Additionally, parties may at any time by mutual consent, submit their dispute pursuant to the provisions of either the Guam International Arbitration Law or Guam’s Mediation statute. Claims against any defendant that is for $10,000.00 or less shall be exempted from the new legislation if they are filed with the Small Claims Division.
“Given that we are nearing the end of the term of the 35th Guam Legislature, it is our intention to immediately enlist public feedback but it is likely additional hearings on medical malpractice reform will have to be further pursued in the 36th Guam Legislature. We value the input of everyone in the community and look forward to further discussion regarding this legislation,” stated Senator Therese Terlaje.
Last year, the 35th Guam Legislature – through the leadership of health committee Chairperson Therese Terlaje – held a series of informational hearings on Guam’s MMMAA. The very difficult but necessary dialogue brought to light legitimate concerns from families of alleged victims about the high cost of the arbitration process serving as a barrier to asserting viable medical malpractice claims and to the pursuit of justice. We also heard the concerns from doctors that a repeal of current law may increase frivolous lawsuits, potentially increase malpractice insurance costs, deter doctors from providing emergency care outside their specialty, and ultimately impact the quality and extent of patient care they provide.
“Following the hearings, I have been working diligently, to consider alternative pre-trial procedures used in other jurisdictions and to draft viable and balanced legislation for Guam that takes all concerns into account, as much as possible yet provides some justice for those who cannot afford arbitration,” stated Senator Therese Terlaje.
“Senator Therese and I introduced Bill No. 430-35 (LS) after many months of research and discussions with families of medical malpractice victims, healthcare providers, and a series of public informational hearings conducted by the legislature. This measure prioritizes access to justice for victims and fairness for Guam’s medical community, particularly after the U.S. District Court of Guam recently issued an order asking the Supreme Court of Guam, ‘is failure to comply with the MMMAA’s arbitration requirement equitably excused when an indigent party cannot reasonably afford the non-administrative fees of any organization authorized to arbitrate under the Act and no alternate means of completing arbitration is available?” Senator Taitague stated.
“It appears the constitutionality of the MMMAA is in question. If there is a determination by the court that the MMMAA is unconstitutional, healthcare providers could be left vulnerable to baseless medical malpractice lawsuits which would harm not only their practice but the broader healthcare system on Guam. Bill No. 430-35 (LS) protects a victim’s right to legal action – while ensuring that a medical malpractice case is properly reviewed before moving forward through the court system, mediation, or arbitration.”Senator Taitague further stated.
For additional information regarding the bill or press release, please contact Senator Senator Therese Terlaje’s office at 472-3586 or send an email to senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com or Senator TeloTaitague’s office at 989-8356 or send an e-mail to senatortelot@gmail.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 19, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – During the close of its regular session today, the 35th Guam Legislature has confirmed the appointment of Arthur U. San Agustin as the Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services.
Senator Terlaje, Chair for the Committee on Health, Tourism, Historic Preservation, Land and Justice, stated, “I felt it was important to contemplate the gravity and responsibility of this position during this particular time when our island is facing a health pandemic and is struggling to control a virus that has taken many lives over the last 9 months, that has shut many businesses down and put more than 30,000 people out of work, that has kept many of us isolated and limited from spending precious in-person time with our family and close friends, and that has completely overwhelmed our health care system.”
Carrying out the burden of leading Guam out of this pandemic comes with the full unprecedented Health Emergency authority which also entails the management of millions of dollars of procurement and federal funds, and tremendous pressure from the administration, hospitals, health care companies, lawyers, doctors, business owners, the legislature and the entire community.
The Health Chair noted that the appointment by the legislature should come with the commitment to provide the department with needed resources, that DPHSS is not scapegoated when it is everyone’s responsibility to improve our situation, and that that the advisory groups and the private sector truly work with them to implement a clear exit strategy that has been communicated effectively to the public.
“I expect the Director to serve the people of Guam first and foremost… that he is direct and completely forthright with the community he serves, and to remove any impediment that keeps information from the public,” said the Senator.
Recognizing the many challenges presented to the new director, Senator Terlaje also outlined some of her expectations including advocacy on behalf of the people of Guam without political interference stating on the session floor, “I expect denunciation of scare tactics or the threatening of furloughs of Public Health staff in the middle of the biggest public health emergency our island has seen and I expect policy to be driven by data and by an unwavering allegiance to saving lives.”
Mr. San Agustin declared his willingness to take on the leadership responsibilities over the Department and his intentions to work towards the improvement of the well-being of the island during his confirmation hearing. Art San Agustin has dedicated his career to serving those in need, to Public Health, often called upon to serve as Acting Director during his long tenure with the agency and 32 years of government service.
Visit Video (1:07) for full remarks on this confirmation below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 1, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – As the community continues to learn how to adapt to life with COVID-19, Senator Therese Terlaje, the Oversight Chair on Health, continues to monitor progress with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to get a clearer picture of the trajectory of the reopening of Guam businesses, tourism as well as restoring some semblance of normalcy for residents.
The third in a series of Oversight Hearings took place on the first day of FY2021 via Zoom with members of the 35th Guam Legislature and administrators from DPHSS to get an update on the progress of COVID-19 response measures including the Contact Tracing and Investigations capacity, implementation and results of COVID-19 tracing apps, public disclosure protocol for case investigations and contact tracing information, status of the CARES Act funding request and other federal funding, and Public Health Authority Powers under Chapter 19, Title 10, Guam Code Annotated.
“Since the first oversight on contact tracing held in May through today, these hearings have been essential to getting information to the public when there has been so much uncertainty. Hearing that there is progress is encouraging and lets everyone in our community know that DPHSS is working hard to keep them safe, while also considering their need to get back to work,” said the Oversight Chair.
The DPHSS Workflow has been streamlined for contact tracing and containment, and they can now contact a positive case, close contacts, plan isolation, and instruct on quarantine for family members within 5-8 hours of test results. According to Dr. Chima Mbakwem, Projects Coordinator for the Office of HealthCare Associated Infections Epidemiology, the new strategy is a time-saving mechanism where the containment team identifies family members and close contacts and immediately hands the data to the contact tracing investigation team who completes their investigation within 1-2 days while those identified are already under quarantine and are being monitored for 14 days.
Annette Aguon, COVID-19 Epidemiology/Surveillance Branch Lead, also updated the Oversight Chair on contact tracing investigation resources stating that there are currently 22 investigators, 25 contact tracers, plus 3 contact tracers with Dr. Mbakwem’s team. Also assisting in this effort are approximately 42 DOE nurses, 38 existing Public Health staff, among others. In addition to public and private partners, a pilot project has started at UOG which will augment the investigation team at a separate site. Santos and Mbakwem attributed the increased staffing, household contacts in multigenerational homes already under quarantine, and the current lockdown in assisting them to complete investigations sustainably until Guam starts reopening and shifting gears.
Although the Guam COVID Alert App has only seen a 19.6% adoption rate, short of the recommended 60% gold standard, efforts are still ongoing to increase the levels through various outreach and incentive programs. Public Health also launched the SARA Alert technology which will eventually replace most of the manual monitoring, allowing a more robust way for patients and close contacts to report their symptoms daily via telephone, email, smartphone, or text messaging.
Though much progress has been made regarding containment and contact tracing, Dr. Ann Pobutsky, Guam’s Territorial Epidemiologist, advised that they are behind on data management and migration, stating that it will be at least another month until we get more robust weekly surveillance reports, which will break down community spread by activity categories. The categories are a work in progress but could contain the information that the community has been pressing for, to make well-informed decisions about what activities could be riskier for them and their families and to help the government determine what businesses could be classified as lower or higher risk.
Senator Terlaje stated, “I continue to urge the Department to provide more data to the public to help them understand what information is driving the decisions so that they have confidence in this process going forward.”
Acting Director Art San Agustin updated the Chair on the latest changes to quarantine protocols, noting that those who wish to test on day 6 and test negative, can opt to fulfill the remainder of their 14-day quarantine at home. Dr. Mbakwem clarified that these individuals are on restricted movement, which means they can go to the store for essential items and exercise because they have a lower probability of testing positive. This is different from quarantine for close contacts who have been exposed to COVID-19.
Although the ongoing community positivity rate averages approximately 8% according to the JIC, Aguon advised that DPHSS is still confident in their ability to adequately trace contacts and control the spread of infection, especially with the recent adjustments made with the isolation and quarantine team and updated internal protocols with the trace investigation team.
“I am optimistic about the progress made in just the past few months regarding containment and contact tracing, however, I cannot stress enough about the importance of transparency in the process and data-driven decisions being the key to public participation,” stated Senator Terlaje.
View the full oversight hearing by clicking here or below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 15 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Bill 398-35 (COR), AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE QUARTERLY EXCESS REVENUES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, was introduced by Senator Therese Terlaje, the Oversight Chair on Health, as she continues to fight for more funding for the operations of the Department of Public Health and Social Services.
The proposed measure appropriates all fiscal year 2021 withholding and corporate income tax revenues collected in excess of the revenue level budgeted per quarter, as reflected on the monthly Consolidated Expenditures and Revenue Report, to the Department of Public Health and Social Services for the expansion of its environmental health inspections, its other regulatory purposes, and other DPHSS operations, not to exceed $5.8 million for the fiscal year.
The policy was initially proposed as an amendment during a Committee on Appropriations meeting as a way to get additional resources for Public Health without having to increase already optimistic revenue projections but failed to garner enough votes in committee.
Terlaje stated, “This bill is a compromise and instead of raising revenue projections beyond what the body is comfortable with, we would dedicate any actual revenues collected every quarter that is above what is in the budget to Public Health to shore up any shortfalls.”
The Department’s budget amount in Sub Bill 282-35 covers all existing payroll with Senator Terlaje successfully passing a provision that carries over their expected lapses into FY 2021, and provides them flexibility tools to shift money around to address any immediate needs for health and social programs, however, the shortage for their operations could exceed $13 million, pending a final accounting on carry-forwards.
“The economic impact from COVID-19 has taken its toll and that includes the government of Guam. We must use our federal funding to direct resources to our COVID response while strategically using our local funding to continue to prop up DPHSS. We must support them to ensure our community is safe from COVID-19 and to continue with the numerous mandates we have placed upon them, including protecting our children and our manåmko’ among their many other duties. I humbly urge my colleagues to consider this option to truly prioritize public health,” stated the Senator.
