Jenniffer Gonzalez Reassesses the Needs of the Health Component to Strengthen Citizen Care and the Response to COVID-19

Statement

The resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, discussed with representatives of some sectors of the health component her needs two years into the pandemic and given the increase in COVID-19 cases.

The meeting was held virtually and was attended by Mr. Caleb J. Colón Rodríguez, president of the College of Health Services Administrators (CASS) together with members of the Governing Board; Dr. Víctor Ramos, president of the College of Physicians; Mr. Jaime Plá, president of the Hospital Association; Dr. Gloria Amador, executive president of Salud Integral en la Montaña and the Alliance of Community Health Centers 330; and Marta Rivera Plaza, the executive director of San Juan Capestrano.

"The COVID emergency continues not only in Puerto Rico, but in the rest of the nation and the world. I was listening to part of the health component on the Island to identify the challenges they face right now and we can help the system not collapse and continue to provide medical services to our population how; this ranges from more available tests, protective equipment and, above all, ensuring that there is human capital to care for patients," said the resident commissioner.

As part of the discussion, the need to promote initiatives that help retain health personnel such as nurses, doctors, social workers, cleaning and security personnel on the Island, who are a cornerstone of the provision of health services, was presented. health, but who have not qualified for the aid that has been provided. He also warned of the increase in costs that health providers have had to absorb in order to provide their services in a safe environment.

For their part, the representatives of the 330 Centers on the Island thanked the resident commissioner for her work in ensuring that Puerto Rico received funds to combat COVID under the same conditions as the states and her efforts promoting federal home test distribution programs. free COVID screening. The mail-order tests are part of a nearly $4 billion federal investment to purchase and distribute 500 million tests.

The 330 information centers were already in the process of disseminating the free home tests provided by the federal government. The commissioner made the announcement in December together with one of the 330 centers and urged others to join this federal initiative to help supply the island with tests that were scarce in the middle of Christmas.

In addition, it was announced that 5 of the 330 Centers on the Island had been selected to be part of the first centers to distribute N-95 masks that the White House recently announced would be available free of charge.

The commissioner also updated the health component on her legislative efforts to achieve full parity under the Medicaid program, acknowledging that the disparity under Medicaid impacts the response to the pandemic.

"If the program ran like in the states, our health system would be more robust and we would have access to more resources. That is why I am going to continue with my goal of achieving full equality for the Island, we are also going to advocate this before the Senate at the hearing on February 1," added González Colón.

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