Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A reader inquired of Samoa News: “Would you be able to provide more information on the Medical Referral program? The article from Monday, April 27, 2020 confirms that the program is still sending patients from the territory to New Zealand. New Zealand… accepts them and there are no escorts.”

What happens after they receive the care they need? Are they allowed back into the territory? There are medical referrals that are stranded that would like to know.

Samoa News responds:

Samoa News asked Sandra King Young, Medicaid Director — American Samoa Medicaid State Agency, Office of the Governor, American Samoa Government, about the status of the Off Island Referral program, and she said, “ONLY emergency acute referrals are allowed at this time. Prohibition of escorts is from NZ — NZ will only accept patients — no one else.”

She explained that from her understanding — American Samoa is just following the Code Blue Declaration policies declared by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga.

King-Young said, “I believe all patients returning from NZ will need COVID test clearances from NZ, notice to our ASG COVID task force on the return, and 14 days of quarantine upon return.

“Since we are only handling emergency cases, return air ambulance is paid for by Medicaid as approved for in the State Plan when necessary to return patients. In this case, without any other means of transportation, air ambulance is what we have until travel restrictions are lifted.

“It's just important to understand that the Code Blue Declaration only allows for Emergency referrals as approved by LBJ first, then NZ, then Medicaid. We also have to give notice to the COVID task force and get their sign-off and the Governor's approval,” she concluded.

Samoa News suggests if there is a medical referral patient (using Medicaid) stranded due to the COVID restrictions that the Medicaid Director- Am. Samoa be notified of their status. Contact numbers are as follows: Office (684) 699-4777/ AS Cell (684) 258-9221.