Governor de Jongh Announces Federal Approval for Changes to Medical Assistance Program

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said Wednesday he is pleased that the Virgin Islands Department of Health has received approval from the United States Department of Health and Human Services to amend its Medicaid State Plan as it relates to coverage of several Medical Assistance Program (MAP) services. 

“The approved amendments, which clarify coverage provisions for many services, including but not limited to emergency and non-emergency transportation services, nurse-midwife services, dental services and other significant services for children, re-affirm the Territory’s commitment to revitalizing the MAP program and ensuring that Territory residents receive needed health care services,” de Jongh said. 

The governor underscored the significance of these approved changes: “We are very pleased with these federal approvals. These changes will allow us to provide non-emergency transportation to MAP-enrolled individuals and improve their ability to access health care services—both treatment and preventative. Access to these services is especially crucial for children in order for them to learn and grow.”

The new benefits were also hailed by Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch who described transportation problems as one of the major barriers prohibiting senior citizens and low income families from accessing services. He added that a lack of transportation can make it difficult for dialysis patients to get to treatment which can result in significant health problems and even unnecessary hospitalizations. When people cannot get to primary health care, Finch emphasized, they often wait until they are very ill and then use the emergency room for care which is the most expensive care setting we have. Since this is often uncompensated care, it becomes a burden to the general fund."

The Territory is embarking upon a Medicaid reform initiative to improve the quantity and quality of health care services provided to MAP beneficiaries and fully utilize all federal funds available to the Territory. Governor de Jongh reiterated that: “We are pursuing these improvements now to ensure a solid foundation in advance of health care reform. We are confident that the passage of health care reform will allow the USVI to expand program eligibility and provide a more comprehensive array of health care services to our residents.” As part of this initiative, the Department of Health has already submitted four other State Plan Amendments to the federal government to enhance federal financial participation in the MAP. In addition, the Department has applied for and received a grant for the design, acquisition and implementation of a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). In the future, the Department of Health will be submitting additional State Plan Amendments and pursuing additional technological enhancements to build a solid infrastructure.

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