Senator Therese Terlaje calls for Legislative Leadership and Transparency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 31, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – After trying to gain consensus on ways to deal with social distancing concerns, Senator Therese Terlaje continues to advocate for legislative business to move forward.

The Senator stated that she is working around the clock to ensure that the Legislature stays abreast of this rapidly evolving situation and does its part to address any impediments or concerns raised.

“Previous legislatures carefully transferred broad powers to the Governor and the Public Health Director during a public health emergency so that lives could be saved.  It is impossible for any legislature to have anticipated the unprecedented effects on the healthcare system, workers, and families that we are facing today. Today, Congress and legislatures across the nation are taking unprecedented action to enhance survival. We must do the same.

It is the Guam Legislature’s duty to bring stability to chaos, to promote transparency, and to find justice for all patients, workers and families affected.  This is done through deliberation and hard work, despite the challenging and rapidly changing conditions.  I am not deterred by the unexpected delay, but caution that the calling and cancelling of session should never be political.  As a separate and unique branch of government, senators must put the best interests of the people first.

Our priority must be on acting deliberately together as a body to ensure health and safety, and to bring rapid economic relief to the people of Guam.”

Under separate cover, Senator Terlaje also sent letters to both Dafne Shimizu, Director of Department of Revenue and Taxation, and Edward Birn, Director of Department of Administration, to urge the immediate payment of all processed tax refunds. According to a report filed as of February 2020, there were 4,398 refund returns processed but unpaid. In addition, there were 1,741 returns still unprocessed for tax year 2018 and 619+ for tax year 2019.

“While our residents potentially wait weeks for federal assistance, there is nothing stopping the administration from prioritizing outstanding refunds for immediate relief. The Guam Legislature has already appropriated the funding through the FY2019 and FY2020 budgets and by statute, required deposits to be made. No additional legislation could further ensure these refunds are prioritized.  That responsibility falls squarely on the Executive Branch.”

COVID SNF Isolation Facility is Officially Open; More Test Kits Expected Next Week

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 20, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) —The Legislature’s Committee on Health is encouraged by news that the newly converted COVID SNF Isolation facility has opened the first of three wings to receive patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently receiving medical care. 

The recently constructed A Wing can accommodate up to 20 people and the B & C wings can then be opened to accommodate 40 more patients for a total of 60, should the need arise.

There are multiple levels of contingency plans put in place by Linda DeNorcey and the team at the Department of Public Health and Social Services, together with GMHA and other government agencies and healthcare facilities, if expansion beyond the COVID SNF becomes necessary.

We continue to closely monitor our progress and are aware that there is still much work that needs to be done as we fight this unprecedented threat to the health, safety and security of the people of Guam.

Additionally, we have confirmed and would like to remind the public of the following:

-Pharmacies will remain open and are operating full time to handle increased demand while incorporating increased social distance precautions for patients.

-Insurance companies, and Medicaid and MIP have all authorized early and extended refills to decrease contact and facilitate sheltering in place especially of our most vulnerable patients.

-Insurance companies and providers on Guam have now worked out parameters for increased Telehealth during this pandemic emergency which will also help keep people safely at home.

-Providers are stepping up triage and urgent care methods that limit the risk of cross-infection of other patients and relieve the hospital.

-DPHSS is accepting new applications and renewals online for all public welfare benefits, including SNAP, Medicaid, and MIP. dphss.guam.gov/bes-resources/.

-DPHSS is also handling prior authorization requests from health providers via fax. 

-DPHSS has advised that more COVID-19 test kits are expected to arrive early next week.

My colleagues and I are fully aware of the layoffs and economic impacts to tourism industry and affecting all of Guam, and are committed to putting measures in place to assist all those impacted, who cannot be made whole through existing local or federal programs.

While our health professionals and other first responders are putting themselves and their families at risk, the rest of us need to shelter in place and work from home to save the lives of our Manamko’, our dialysis and cancer patients and all those with immunocompromised conditions.

We will not get a second chance to get this right. Whether the government is mandating you or not, please stay home and anticipate that many in the community may be carrying the virus without symptoms. Do not take a chance on exposure to the virus. Let us increase precautions by sheltering in place, to save the lives of our frontline workers and those we love.

SENATOR THERESE TERLAJE’S BILL TO FUND GMHA CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 4, 2020- Hagåtña, Guam)- Bill 210-35 (COR), introduced by Senator Therese M. Terlaje, to appropriate $10 million dollars from the Hospital Capital Improvement fund for GMHA’s top three urgent projects which include the roof repairs, the electronic health record, and the electrical panel, was unanimously passed in today’s legislative session.

“With the passage of Bill 210 into law, I look forward to GMHA’s swift action to use the $10 million in funding to expand the Electronic Health Record system or address any of the other urgent repairs, pending the availability of additional funds.

The Army Corps of Engineers, in their preliminary outbrief, made it clear that whether we build a new hospital or repair the current one, costs for repair projects for the existing facility should be incorporated to obtain/maintain CMS accreditation for a 7-year window minimum timeframe.

Our sick and dying loved ones at the hospital deserve the best care we can give.

There is no higher priority use of government funds today than fixing our hospital’s leaking roof, electrical panel and elevators, and ensuring accurate medical records and CMS protections.

Funding the hospital is a unanimous policy of the legislature based on the clear mandate of the people,” stated Senator Therese Terlaje. 

Terlaje: Prioritize Funding for Repairs to Existing Hospital to Safeguard Patient Safety and CMS Accreditation

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 17, 2020- Hagåtña, Guam)- Senator Therese M. Terlaje introduced Bill 294-35 (COR) today, to prioritize an additional $11 Million of improvements to the current Guam Memorial Hospital facility, above less critical expenditures in the current Executive Budget request for FY2021.

“All the revenue we receive as a government is meaningless if we cannot provide a safe place for our community during the most vulnerable times of our lives. Patients and their families deserve to walk into our hospital without seeing a leaking roof and wondering if the electrical panel, air system, or medical record system will put them at risk.”

According to the Chairperson of the Legislature’s Committee on Health, approximately $21 Million Dollars of priority projects are estimated in order to protect CMS Accreditation and to maintain patient safety pending construction of a new hospital, that may take up to five years to realize.

During FY2020, $10 Million was appropriated to GMH from FY2019 Business Privilege Tax revenues in excess of FY2019 appropriated revenues through Public Law 35-36 and Bill 210, which recently lapsed into law. The Governor’s FY2021 budget is $506,766 less than the total appropriated for FY2020 and again does not allocate funding for the known urgent capital improvement needs of the hospital.

Bill 294-35 will immediately dedicate an additional $11 Million to GMH capital improvement and equipment priorities from FY2021 revenues. This investment will allow for the adequate planning and thorough vetting of additional long-term construction plans for the hospital.

Highest priorities of the hospital include investing in the continued accreditation of the hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and addressing the most urgent structural deficiencies, equipment needs, and infrastructure deficiencies of the current hospital facility.  

SENATOR THERESE TERLAJE ON THE LAUNCH OF THE VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION EVERYDAY (VINE) PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 6, 2020) – The Crime Victim’s Rights Act of 2004 granted victims the right to be notified of certain developments in their cases, including changes to the defendant’s confinement status. Victims sometimes had not been notified, or when they were notified, it was after the defendant’s release. This is a gap in victim service delivery that deprives victims of this right, compromises victim safety, and causes a feeling of re-victimization.

“The Attorney General’s Office launch of the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program is an important step towards closing the victim notification gap, and I look forward to prompt and continued expansion of the system, to include automatic notification of time of actual release.”

Victims will now be able to access and, if they choose, to be actively notified of court hearing dates and outcomes. They will no longer have to wait for phone calls or call themselves to obtain this information.

“Having timely, reliable information at their fingertips, on their computer or mobile device, accessible twenty-four hours a day, is vital to victim engagement, empowerment, and safety. I look forward to and will continue to support other measures to ensure victim safety and enhance victim service delivery.”  

To access VINE visit vinelink.com, download the VINELink APP or call 1-877-484-8463.

For more information feel free to call the Office of Senator Therese Terlaje at 472-3586, or email senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com.

Senator Therese Terlaje Begins the First Part of a Series of Informational Hearings on Guam’s Medical Malpractice Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 20, 2019)—Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje commenced the first part of a series of informational hearings on Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act. 

Thursday’s first informational hearing focused on the basic background of Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act. The Office of the Attorney General of Guam, Attorney Mitch Thompson, and members of the Guam Bar Association, including lawyers who volunteered to assist the Legislature with examining the malpractice law, were invited to attend and shared an overview of the current statute and relevant cases. Patients and members of the public also testified and shared their personal experiences and the impact the malpractice law has had on their families. From our first hearing, we learned that arbitration costs are clearly an issue and more information is needed from providers of arbitration services and those who have engaged in the process. 

Having the input from the legal community, medical professionals, and patients is important as we address the intent of the law, and its impact on the standard of health care on Guam. I’m grateful for the willingness of our legal and health professionals for assisting in this regard. A review is long overdue, and is critical especially for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Thank you to Mr. David Lubofsky and Ms. Anelyn Lagrimas for not only having the courage to share your experiences and the impact the medical malpractice law has had on your families, but for the extensive research you have done in the process. I offer my deepest condolences to our families experiencing loss, and remain committed to ensuring fairness in the process and most of all, access to justice.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Chairperson, Committee on Health

All health professionals are invited to a second informational hearing on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. to focus on the effect of the current law on standards of care. A third informational hearing is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and will focus on recommendations for improvement. All hearings will take place at the Public Hearing Room of the Guam Congress Building. Patients and the public are invited to attend both hearings and provide written testimony. 

Attorney Mitch Thompson gives presentation on Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act (September 19, 2019).
David Lubofsky and Anelyn Lagrimas provide testimony at the first informational hearing of Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act (September 19, 2019).

To read written testimony submitted to the Committee on Health, please view the following:

Attorney-Mitch-Thompson-2Download
Attorney John-Bell-1Download
David-Lubofsky-2Download
Anelyn-Lagrimas-1Download

As we the Committee receives testimony, they will be posted on this website. You can watch the first informational hearing on the Guam Legislature’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwcPPG11ZEA

Senator Therese Terlaje’s Foster Facility Bill Signed Into Law, Increasing Capacity For Emergency Children Shelters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 4, 2019)—Today we take a major step in getting children out of harm’s way and into a safer living environment with the signing of Bill 159-35 into Public Law. 

Public Law 35-35, introduced by Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje and Senator Mary Torres, and co-sponsored by all senators in the 35thGuam Legislature, will increase the capacity of the new emergency foster care shelter for more than 12 children. The new 7,000-sq. ft. I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M. foster care shelter, is set to be completed by October 2019. 

Our efforts with this measure were prompted by the sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl who was living in an abandoned structure in Dededo last year. Any crime against our children and our most vulnerable cannot and should not be ignored. While we work to address the bigger problem of abuse and homelessness with our children, today we take an important step in helping our most vulnerable get into a safer living environment. Thank you to all our stakeholders who worked on this bill and provided crucial input at our series of meetings and roundtables over the past year. 

Si Yu’os Ma’åse to Sister Mary Brigid Perez, former First Lady Christine Calvo, the Rigalu Foundation, the Department of Public Health and Social Services for your hard work and vision, and most especially to our foster families for opening their hearts and homes for our children. 

Si Yu’os Ma’åse to our women Senators in the previous term, the Guam Homeless Coalition, CPS, GHURA, Guam Housing Corporation, and GPD for leaving no stone unturned in seeking ways to prevent the abuse of homeless children.

Statement from Senator Therese Terlaje on the passage of FY2020 Budget Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 31, 2019)– This budget is not perfect, it still has some fat and some agencies will be hard pressed to achieve more than the status quo. We will have to rely not just on management, but also on every government employee to find efficiencies.

But this budget does have some good things in it. This budget adds 50 new police officers, if everybody can do their part to get those processed.

It also adds money to expand our children’s shelter and get at least 24 more of the 200+ homeless children safely off the street, and to support the Autism Shelter.

This budget sets aside for tax refunds, and sets aside a rainy day fund for reduction of the deficit.

This budget allows flexibility for the Governor in areas where there may be critical shortfalls and for DPW to focus on the roads.

This budget also locks up $10-million for the first time in years toward repairs and safety, and CMS approval at the Guam Memorial Hospital while we confirm the long-term plan. I hope in good faith that this money does not get diverted.

All the rest, we will have to work harder on throughout the year.

I would like to thank my colleagues for their debate of the issues and support of sometimes controversial amendments. I would like to thank the Office and Finance and Budget and the Legislature’s staff for their hard work.

Most importantly, I would also like to thank the people of Guam for their attention and for continuing to care about our island and government. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and advice with us throughout this entire process. Together, with focus and hard work, we can go forward and address even those long-standing challenges one by one. I humbly ask that you never stop asking questions and never stop expecting better.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’

Statement from Senator Terlaje on FY2020 Budget Discussion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 30, 2019)— I am glad we have completed the budget process without the threat of a government shutdown. I commend the Office of Finance and Budget staff on their thorough work with the budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020. There are some great things in this budget, including funding of 50 new police officers and lapses that may allow for more. However, most agencies will have to increase efficiency to meet government service mandates with limited funds, and not all the fat was trimmed in other areas. 

As the chairperson for the Committee on Health, I am concerned with some of the shortfalls for our critical health agencies. The Department of Public Health and Social Services will have serious challenges with funding below FY19 levels. Meanwhile, Guam Memorial Hospital still needs a structural assessment and long term plan, but we have directed $10-million of the $14-million in projected FY19 revenue to go toward critical capital improvement projects at the hospital. 

I believe more time for debate on the issues would have been helpful to achieve more transparency, and efficiencies throughout the government, especially because budgeting is the Guam Legislature’s main job. The few days set aside for budget deliberations and the strict rules limited debate on this very important matter. 

Thank you to the people of Guam for following along through these deliberations and playing an important role in ensuring the critical needs of our government agencies are addressed. 

Senator Therese Terlaje’s amendment to cut Legislature’s budget for medical equipment ruled out of order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 29, 2019) — Hoping to lead by example, Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s attempted amendment to cut the Guam Legislature’s budget in order to purchase medical equipment is ruled out of order.

Because the FY2020 appropriations for the Guam Legislature is above the FY2019 levels, Senator Terlaje moved to cut $424,345 and appropriate the funding to the Guam Memorial Hospital for medical equipment and supplies including an anesthesia machine and dialysis machine. The amendment was co-sponsored by Senator Amanda Shelton and Senator Sabina Perez.

With all due respect, everyone is working hard. We have seen a reduction in salary below many people in the Government of Guam, and we’re all in need of more staff. However, when we look at many of our government agencies, like GMH and DOE, who we’ve asked to tow the lines to 2019 levels with a reduced budget, we have to do the same in the Guam Legislature.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Committee on Health Chairperson

The attempted amendment was ruled out of order by the chairperson since it was not offered while on the page for the Guam Legislature’s budget. A motion to overrule did not receive enough senatorial votes.

While the amendment was not included in the budget bill, Senator Terlaje plans to introduce legislation regarding this proposal.

Lawmakers completed discussion on Bill 186-35 and rose from the Committee of the Whole. The budget bill was placed in the voting file. Session vote will resume Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 9:30pm.