Lawmakers press GMH on how $40M was used and uncertainty over FY26 $20M allotment

Guam Memorial Hospital officials told the Legislature’s Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs on April 6 that the hospital received the $40 million appropriated under Public Law 3859 and used most of it to pay down vendor payables. Senators pressed for transparency on how supplemental and reallocated funds were used and for confirmation of whether other agency unobligated balances were transferred to support the law.

CFO Yuka Heninova told the committee that GMH has received the $40 million. She also said the FY26 $20 million appropriation from the net unobligated general fund balance — authorized in the FY26 budget law — had not yet been distributed because, per the statute’s language, the allotment depends on end‑of‑year unobligated balances.

What lawmakers asked: Senators sought to know whether unexpended appropriations from public‑safety agencies were redirected to the hospital and whether the $20 million for FY26 will be released in a single allotment. Several lawmakers said they expect the funds to be fully allotted at fiscal‑year close to avoid the fate of prior appropriations that were not released.

Key figures and fiscal condition: GMH reported approximately $6 million in operational accounts payable and roughly $2.5 million in CIP payables at the time of the hearing; over‑90‑day payables were cited at about $1.5 million. Hospital leadership said cash flows are being monitored closely and that the $20 million in the FY26 law is budgeted for operations but will be booked only once the net unobligated amounts are certified.

Why it matters: The timing and manner of allotment affect vendors, project execution and the hospital’s day‑to‑day ability to pay suppliers for pharmaceuticals, equipment and long‑lead capital items. Lawmakers stressed they want to avoid situations where appropriated funds went unused because of allotment timing or administrative gaps.

Next steps: Senators demanded a full allotment schedule and said the committee will track distribution closely. GMH said it will provide an updated CIP dashboard and more detailed accounts‑payable aging data to the committee.

Attributions: CFO Yuka Heninova provided the hospital’s fiscal figures and status of allotment; multiple senators including Senator Shan Gumatau and Senator D. (questions) pressed for clarity on transfers and allotment practice.

Ending: The committee asked for prompt follow‑up documentation, and GMH committed to furnish a corrected spreadsheet and monthly updates on vendor payables and project obligations.