Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands are being treated as less than second-class citizens with regards to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Delegate Donna M. Christensen told federal officials Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
“To frame the issue in simple terms, my constituents and those of my colleagues equate the ACA (Affordable Care Act) or Obamacare with having an exchange,” Christensen said at the annual meeting of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas. “And well they should because the central premise and promise is affordable coverage for all Americans.”
The meeting was co-chaired by Interior Department Secretary Sally Jewel and White House Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew. Christensen introduced Senate President Shawn-Michael Malone, who attended the meeting.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. was not able to attend, but earlier had presented a memorandum covering a dozen issues important to the territory for consideration by the group, headed by resolution of the rum tax cover-over rate extension.
Addressing the ACA concerns, Christensen told the group – which also included representatives from Commerce, Agriculture, Energy and other federal agencies whose policies impact the Virgin Islands – that “to be eligible without equitable and adequate funding is not to be included at all.”
“All of us have significant segments of our population who today have no possibility of getting health insurance, and the delegates are asking for fairness to prevail and that our districts be allowed to participate in the federal exchange.”
Paul Dioguardi, director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Health and Human Services, said they were working to make sure the territories can participate to the full extent allowed by current law. He pointed to a recent increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, which would cover more of the uninsured in the Virgin Islands and other territories, and said Guam has already submitted the necessary documentation to take full advantage of the increases.
Christensen said that with all the HHS and CMS help, there were still more than 30,000 uninsured people in the Virgin Islands.
“I still have to find a way to provide insurance for everyone,” she said.
DeJongh had been in the nation’s capital to discuss the rum cover-over extension but had to fly back to the territory before Tuesday’s meeting, so he submitted a memorandum outlining what he said were critical issues facing the territory.
“I had an opportunity to discuss a majority of these areas with acting Assistant Secretary Faeth and Director Nik Pula at our meeting on the rum cover-over last Friday and used that opportunity to provide an even more comprehensive perspective as to their impact on our residents," deJongh wrote.
In his memorandum, deJongh listed 12 areas of "critical importance to the economic development and fiscal independence of the Virgin Islands, for the IGIA and on-going interaction with the Department of the Interior."
Under the heading of "Tax Issues," the list included the rum tax cover-over rate extension, the Rockefeller Amendment/Treasury Regulations that pertain to amending residence and sourcing rules for possessions, revising the treatment of capital gains, and earned income credit cost sharing.
For "Healthcare," the governor included the extension of Medicaid "J" waiver authority to all U.S. territories, which would provide flexibility in meeting legal and administrative requirements of the ACA, the extension of state-like Federal Medical Assistance Percentages to all territories, and inadequate Medicare reimbursement for Virgin Islands hospitals under the outdated Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982.
DeJongh listed three issues under "Homeland Security." They are a proposed special visa waiver program for the U.S. Virgin Islands that would lead to increased tourism and opportunities for hosting international special events, support for full federal funding of customs services in the Virgin Islands, and expansion of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to include the U.S. territories in the Caribbean, or establishment of a comparable program with similar financial resources and programs.
For "Early Education," the governor listed inclusion of the U.S. territories in President Obama’s Plan for Early Education for all Americans.
The 12th issue, under "Transportation," is an appeal to restore the 20 percent funding cut to the territorial highway program.
"The issues have not necessarily changed over the years, but resolution is more critical to us in order for the Virgin Islands to be competitive regionally, ensure quality of life issues and attain financial sustainability that can lead to so many other benefits on behalf of our community," deJongh said Tuesday.
The IGIA was established in 1999 to provide a mechanism for improved communication and coordination between the federal government and its territories.
The problem is the balancing act the United States Virgin Islands has to do.!
Wether to be an island /s that is a major part of the Caribbean or a part of the United States ..and because if this balancing act don’t get full benefits and representation of being none of each.
Dona, haven’t you figured out yet that Obummercare is an unworkable bad joke and the guy in the WH is a feckless liar who doesn’t care about ANY Americans ANYWHERE: State side or in the VI. Wake up people – He does not care about anything but himself and he lies and speaks outta both sides of his mouth constantly. He’s a serial liar wrecking our health system, economy and the country/territory in general. All who voted for this jerk should be very proud of their folly.
First, I’m pretty happy the megawealthy guy that felt that 47% of Americans were collecting welfare didn’t get the job, so I view the current administration of the lesser of two evils, the former being a great potential evil. The lies are the ones you’re spewing. The current pres isn’t doing a very good job, but neither is Congress. I don’t like Obamacare at all. Should have gone straight single payer and cut out the insurance industry crooks. Our greedy healthcare system wrecked itself. You have a giant, moneysucking monster standing between you and your Doctor. It’s called the insurance industry. Further, why Christensen and DeJongh feel the V.I. should get a free ride on the U.S. Taxpayer, though, is WAY beyond comprehension. The two are set for life no matter what, and what happens in the V.I. doesn’t affect them or their kin. Either pay U.S. taxes (along with SS and medicare), or you don’t get the benefits. Just like any other U.S. citizen. Simple as that. You ain’t “owed” nothing from the U.S. You already get way too much to pass ‘roun to cronies as it is. When that happens, lissen for the squealing when the V.I. first taxes you to take care of itself and the old boy’s club, then the U.S. taxes you. Maybe that’s what’s needed. Keep denying the corruption and give the ex-cons government jobs when they roll out of Federal prison. I expect ‘ol Dean Plaskett to be right back up there in government shortly.
How are we supposed to take anything you say serious when you resort to name calling? Regardless of if you agree or not, He is Your President too and the fact that people call affordable health care obamacare literally means obama cares…about health insurance for all.
Of course he’s not perfect and no one is but blindly just calling someone names and being against ANYTHING the President does kind of illustrates you were comfortable with the staus quo of everyone for themselves. That’s why the VI will continue to have the smame issues because people believe one man whether you like him or not can literally drive us all to utopia and fix problems that took centuries to mess up in only 8 years. Time to stop pointing fingers and assigning blame to at least try to work together for once…