Visit to Medicaid Highlights the Importance of the Program

March 13, 2026 Newsletters Image Healthcare was an important focus during my time back home this week, including a visit with the CNMI Medicaid Office and a tour of their new offices in the Horiguchi Building in Garapan. I had the chance to meet members of their growing staff while several new hires were going through onboarding, and it was encouraging to see the team expanding to support our islands’ access to healthcare services. Director George Cruz and his team also walked me through the direction of the program, what resources it needs, and how these positions will strengthen services for Medicaid beneficiaries in our community. One figure that stood out was their estimate that roughly 56% of our population, based on the 2020 Census, are Medicaid beneficiaries. That underscores just how important this program is for our islands and why our work to expand opportunity and stability here at home remains so critical for our community. Issues : Health