ago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Besides its annual subsidy to the LBJ Medical Center Authority and the American Samoa Community College — referred to as the Board of Higher Education — the American Samoa Government is continuing separate funding in FY2024 for the hospital’s staff development as well as the ASCC nursing program.

The government is also maintaining its annual funding support for Hope House, the only Hospice facility in the territory.

These funding subsidies are included under the initiatives listed in the Special Programs budget, overseen by the Governor’s Office, for the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget.

For current FY 2023, Special Programs allocates $400,000 for “LBJ Staff Development/ Technical Training” but in the new fiscal year, which commences Oct. 01, 2023, ASG is increasing this funding to $500,000 — and added into this initiative, is the Fiji Medical School Program.

According to the Governor’s FY 2024 Executive Budget Summary letter to the Fono, LBJ is currently facing financial challenges due to cash flow and federal compliance. “These challenges have made it difficult for LBJ to provide the necessary professional trainings for staffs of the newly opened Dialysis Unit,” it says.

With the new extension of the Dialysis Unit opened with new dialysis equipment and other strict requirements from the U.S Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), staff training has been cited mandatory for staff to meet compliance and other professional standards.

“Therefore, these funds will help support these necessary trainings for the staff of the Dialysis Unit,” it says noting that these funds will also provide assistance for local students accepted to the Fiji Medical School for expenses regarding tuition and other related fees.

Under the Special Program category, the Administration is again budgeting a $2 million ASG subsidy for LBJ, and this is the same amount for the current fiscal year.

For the ASCC Nursing Program, the Administration is allocating $100,000 in the new fiscal year, an increase of $50,000 from FY 2023. The Administration points out that world shortage in Registered Nurses necessitated continuation and expanding the enrollment of the Nursing Program.

“The existing Nursing Program is endangered due to lack of funding to cover the cost of this critical program,” it says.

HOPE HOUSE

In another health related issue, ASG is also continuing its $100,000 subsidy to Hope House saying that the facility’s capacity has been stretched to the limit because the demand is rapidly rising but limited by available financial resources. And LBJ is feeling the implication of not having a Hospice Facility operated by ASG.

“It is being observed that the seniors who are admitted at LBJ are very reluctant to be discharged because the service provided at home is not at the level received at LBJ,” the Administration says. “Consequently, LBJ is forced to provide services to these senior patients.”

 “Unfortunately, this threatens LBJ’s CMS Certification because patients must be discharged once determined that the person is eligible to be discharged,” the administration says.

“The other observation is the frequency of re-admittance of seniors is growing.

“This accentuates the need for the Hope House Facility and the need for American Samoa Government to contribute to this operation,” it says.