12 Dec 2005

American Samoan senate push to overturn hospital fee hike

2:43 pm on 12 December 2005

The American Samoa Senate President, Lolo Moliga, is calling on community groups to help distribute and get more signatures for a petition that calls on the Governor to intervene and halt the LBJ Tropical Medical Center's new fee increases.

Lolo says the petition should reach every person in the territory that opposes the rate hike and support from Common Cause, YWCA, and others are necessary.

Lolo asked the groups to work with the Senate's office to coordinate the petition drive, which has already collected more than 300 signatures.

Results of two days of public hearings, the petition and surveys conducted by the Senate and YWCA will be compiled behind a Senate resolution and submitted to the Governor.

Lolo says the Senate hopes the documents and public concern will persuade the Governor to overturn the new fees.