By The Star Staff
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón outlined her vision for transforming Puerto Rico’s health system late last week, emphasizing key areas such as financing, professional development and systemic evolution.
Among her administration’s initiatives to enhance the health care system, the governor highlighted the reactivation of the Multisectoral Task Force to advocate for equitable financing. She also mentioned the creation of a metrics and costs unit within the Vital Plan to promote greater transparency, the evaluation of health insurance for public employees, and the streamlining of the credentialing process for doctors.
Additionally, the governor plans to promote new medical residency programs, establish a trust to assist with student loan repayments in health care, and improve salary conditions for nurses and medical technologists. She said efforts would be made to certify the Medical Center’s Trauma Hospital as a Level 1 facility, expand access to telemedicine, and eliminate bureaucratic barriers related to pharmacy benefits.
“We are focused on making the health system in Puerto Rico more accessible, efficient, and modern,” González Colón said.
Her remarks were delivered Friday at the forum “Paths to Health: Innovation and Solutions,” organized by the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association.
The governor emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to health services, which is why, she said, she appointed Dr. Víctor Ramos Otero as secretary of health.
“He shares my vision; he was the architect of the government health program, possesses leadership experience, has garnered support from numerous organizations in the sector, and is already implementing actions within the agency,” González Colón said.
Regarding system financing, the governor noted that half of the population relies on the Health Card, which is funded by Medicaid, while seniors depend on Medicare Advantage. She recalled that during her tenure in Congress as resident commissioner, she successfully prevented the Medicaid cuts referred to as the “Medicaid cliff.” As governor, she has proposed to the administration of President Donald Trump the establishment of a national minimum rate for Medicare Advantage. In 2023, the base payment in Puerto Rico was $644 per beneficiary per month, compared to $1,099 in the rest of the United States.
Addressing the issue of brain drain in the health sector, the governor cited initiatives aimed at strengthening professional training, including the opening of the new Neurosurgery Program at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, which she said will ensure a supply of well-trained neurosurgeons on the island.
González Colón also highlighted recent successes in system evolution, such as preventing the closure of the emergency room at Mountain Metropolitan Hospital in Utuado and ensuring the continuity of the emergency room at Metropolitan Hospital in Cabo Rojo. She also noted her administration’s quick response to the avian flu crisis, with collaboration on the part of the designated health secretary and the federal Agriculture Department.
Without using profanity, How many Committees does Puerto Rico really need? How many layers of Government? Why can't an island that 100 miles by 35 miles be divided into 8 counties 25 miles by 17.5 miles and get rid of all the useless levels of Government? Stop paying for useless politicians.
Speaking of which, why doesn't J. Go. Simply gather the CEO's of the hospitals and 24 hour clinics and ask them what they need? Why does Puerto Rico need another Committee to spend money? Does every Puerto Rican have a job on a Committee by now, because they should. Money needs to be spent on the problems, not on Committees.
Puerto Rico is so inefficient that I'm surprised Puerto…