GRMC to host Healthcare Outreach Event for the FSM Community

GRMC to host Healthcare Outreach Event for the FSM Community
Event intends to assist people with applying for Medicaid and help determine if they are eligible

 (Thursday, November 17, 2022; Dededo, Guam) Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) is hosting a Healthcare Outreach Event for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) community in collaboration with the FSM Consulate, Micronesian Resource Center, Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS), and the Dededo Mayor’s Office.  The event will be held at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center (across from Santa Barbara Catholic Church) on Sunday, November 20, 2022, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

The outreach event aims to educate members of the FSM community about the Medicaid health insurance program, help them determine if they are eligible for coverage, and assist them with filling out the application. Application assistance will also be provided for other DPHSS programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps.

According to Eric Plinske, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at GRMC, “Many members of the FSM community may not realize that Medicaid coverage was restored for Compact of Free Association (COFA) nation citizens on December 28, 2020, when the 2020 Omnibus COVID-19 Relief Bill was signed into law by former President Trump.” COFA citizens inadvertently lost access to Medicaid back in 1996 when the Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act was signed into law and many members of the U.S. Congress didn’t realize that it removed COFA citizen Medicaid eligibility. It took nearly 25 years to restore Medicaid access for COFA citizens from the FSM, Marshall Islands, and Palau. Plinske added, “Anyone is welcome to attend the event to find out if they are eligible for Medicaid, but we are targeting community members from Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap who are either uninsured or enrolled in the Medically Indigent Program (MIP) since Medicaid provides greater benefit coverage and no copays.”

Translators from the FSM will be present at the event to assist with answering questions and helping people fill out the DPHSS public assistance application. Additionally, there will be free blood glucose and blood pressure checks conducted by medical staff, and patient educators will be available to explain the test scores and teach participants how to manage blood pressure/sugar. Light refreshments and raffle prizes will also be provided.

For members of the FSM community who would like to know more about the event, they may contact the FSM Consulate at (671) 646-9154/9155.