TakeCare Insurance has filed an appeal with the Office of Public Accountability, challenging the
Department of Administration’s denial of the insurance provider’s protest of the FY19 Request for Proposal for the Government of Guam Group Health Insurance Program.
“We are asking the OPA to remove the requirement in the RFP that Guam Regional Medical City has to be included in an insurer's provider network in order to qualify to bid on the Government of Guam Group Health Insurance Contract," said TakeCare president/CEO Joseph Husslein. "We believe that it is violation of Guam law for DOA to require that any specific private business, such as GRMC, be a part of an insurer's provider network in order to qualify for the Government of Guam Group Health Insurance Program," Husslein said.
Husslein argued that Guam law only requires that prospective offerors include all government health care services, such as GMH.
“Requiring all Offerors' proposals to include GRMC in their networks violates several Guam laws, including the Procurement Law and the recently passed Public Law 34-83," he said. “We believe an RFP cannot include conditions that restrict competition.”
During the appeals process, TakeCare Health Plan Administrator Arvin Lojo adds that, "TakeCare members, as well as members of other Government of Guam health plans, can be assured there are special provisions in existing contracts with the Government of Guam that ensures healthcare coverage and benefits will remain uninterrupted until the appeal is fully resolved.”