Guam Memorial Hospital has raised patient care rates and is now billing for services that were previously free.
The Pacific Daily News reports that the hospital had previously been prohibited by law from charging for 2,000 services.
Jane Flores, acting chief financial officer at Guam Memorial Hospital Authority and GMH Administrator Peter John Camacho, signed off on an additional 34 fees, relating to services and supplies provided to patients by the hospital, as well as more than 2,000 new fees for physician services.
The new fees include a bill of 492 US dollars for pediatric critical care transport and a charge of just over 1200 dollars for initial day hospital neonatal care for premature infants.
Although the new fees are now in effect they are still undergoing the formal approval process.
The hospital board of trustees is expected to give final approval later this month after which the Guam Legislature must endorse them within 45 days.
If the Legislature doesn't act or can't reach a consensus by the end of 45 days, the fees will be go into effect anyway.
