Health chapter opens with questions about GMH capital projects and last year’s appropriations

When the Committee moved to Chapter 3 (health), multiple senators asked the Office of Finance and Budget whether Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMH) received prior special appropriations and how General Fund appropriations and potential capital projects would be handled going forward.

Senator Gomitata asked whether money authorized in an earlier public law (Public Law 38‑59) had been transferred to support $40 million in capital improvements; OFB said it did not have that confirmation on hand and would try to obtain the information. Later, senators asked whether GMH received the $35 million appropriation included in last year’s law for an initial payment for the health care center of excellence; OFB said it believes the hospital had not received that appropriation but that parts of the FY‑26 appropriations were expended for other obligations.

“I'm not sure, senator, whether or not the hospital actually received it,” OFB said when asked whether the prior appropriation reached GMH. Senators also pressed about a $7 million FY‑26 accounts payable appropriation (OFB said about $4 million of that $7 million had been expended) and whether GMH’s capital project list (roughly $11 million in the FY‑27 request) would be funded in this bill or in a separate capital financing vehicle. OFB indicated capital projects are being discussed for separate treatment, and that some projects might be financed or funded from other sources in future actions.

Senators also raised concerns about transparency and process: whether the hospital’s accounts‑payable aging and tax‑credit usage are documented and whether the revenue‑cycle management RFP has completed procurement steps; OFB said that RFP is still pending and that more detail would be provided after follow‑up with GMH.

The Committee recessed for dinner at the close of the day and planned to return to continue Chapter 3 questioning and possible amendments.