MEDICAID coverage will be expanded to facilities in the Philippines and other areas outside of the United States with no cost impact once the Guam Medicaid Program amends its State Plan, Gov. Eddie Calvo announced yesterday.
“For many years, many of our people who are insured would go to the Philippines for quality health care. The unfortunate thing is for many of our people who cannot afford health care – those who are in the Medicaid program – they have not had that option,” Calvo said when he announced the news at an MOU (memorandum of understanding)-signing ceremony held yesterday.
Certain conditions must be met in order for Medicaid to provide coverage under the new expansion. For one, the services must be emergency or medically-necessary services that are not available on Guam. The out-of-country facility must also be the nearest source of care, must be JACHO-certified, and must have signed an agreement with the Medicaid agency.
The Governor’s Office received official word from the U.S. Department of Health and Social Services yesterday morning.
