Health Care in the VI Must Be a Priority

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The Territory’s health care discussion was brought to an important place as the Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services convened for the first time in 2008 with testimony from health care leaders throughout the territory.

Virgin Islands policy leaders have decided that steps to map out a realistic strategy to reform the health care system must be taken. But, the consensus stands that there must be equal emphasis on both preventative and acute care. The looming recession being predicted on the US mainland has begun to produce many issues that will change how health care is delivered to Virgin Islanders.

The Bush budget issued this February carries in it over $178-billion in cuts to Medicare and an additional $20-billion in similar cuts to Medicaid. Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. recently submitted testimony to the meeting of the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs in Washington, D.C. In his testimony, deJongh revisited the issue of the discriminatory cap on Medicaid funding and more. “The ability of the Virgin Islands Government to assure adequate health care for Island residents is hampered by the discriminatory cap on Medicaid funds provided to the Virgin Islands and the other U.S. Territories," he said.

As a Territory, we have no choice but to change how we approach health care for our citizens. We must change how we do things and what we value in our health care system. 

From an economic perspective, preventive care is far more cost efficient than after-the-fact acute treatment. Virgin Islands policy makers must focus on two things: 1) appropriate care at the appropriate time and 2) the most cost efficient manner of delivery. Without a doubt, preventative care fits both these criteria. However it takes the will of those in power to make changes that will emphasize a shift away from acute care to preventative care.

With almost thirty percent of the VI population being classified as uninsured, Governor John P. deJongh has expressed his intention to coordinate a task force to address the health care issue. The Governor has committed that when the task force members are appointed, AARP will be represented in the group. Task Force members will need to come up with timelines and priorities for expanding programs to serve the uninsured as well as provide health insurance for more local residents.

These are the types of issues that the national AARP Divided We Fail initiative champions when we appeal to voters to join us in urging elected officials to offer meaningful solutions that will ensure that all Americans, including Virgin Islanders, have access to qualify and affordable health care. Dr. Cora Christian, national AARP board member took the Divided We Fail message to the legislative hearing and appealed to Legislators to make addressing health care in the Territory an immediate priority.

Talk to your elected leaders today. Stress the importance that health care and long-term financial securities, which are closely related, must be a primary focus for all. For more information on Divided We Fail, visit www.dividedwefail.org.