SAIPAN – The Commonwealth Medicaid Office has officially opened its new headquarters in Garapan, with Director George Cruz announcing expanded services, increased staffing, and a push toward electronic applications during a press conference Monday morning.
The office now operates on the second and third floors of the Horiguchi Building on Beach Road, next to Kristo Rai Church. Cruz said the new site offers centralized access, safer facilities, and far better parking than the agency’s previous Capitol Hill location. “The old office was inadequate and even posed fire hazards,” Cruz said. “This move allows us to better serve our beneficiaries and staff.”
The Garapan office is now open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 4pm. Unlike the previous site, which closed to the public at 1pm, the new schedule provides more access. Fridays remain closed to the public so staff can catch up on records and verification work.
Cruz confirmed that beneficiaries must still re-register annually, but the office is developing an electronic system that will allow applications and renewals online. “Our goal is to launch within three to six months,” he said, adding that face-to-face visits will only be needed in special cases.
Medicaid currently supports more than 19,000 beneficiaries across the CNMI, which is nearly half of the islands’ population. Cruz noted that staffing has doubled from 17 to more than 30 personnel since late 2024, which has helped speed up eligibility processing, claims, and provider payments. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the office processed more than $120 million in reimbursements.
The CNMI’s Medicaid program operates on a 17% local match, which is the lowest in the U.S. aside from Puerto Rico. While funding for territories was not cut in recent federal adjustments, Cruz said the CNMI has “never been fully funded” at the required match level. Still, the program received a 2% to2.7% funding increase this year.
With government austerity and reduced work hours, Cruz anticipates more residents could become eligible for Medicaid. An increase of 1,500 new clients would push enrollment above 20,000, or over half of the islands’ population. “That should be a concern for our community and leaders because it puts a huge burden on the program,” he cautioned.
Cruz closed by thanking his staff and beneficiaries for their patience during the move and invited the public to visit the new Garapan office.
Watch the full press conference on the NMI News Service here: https://youtu.be/hY3xaYbg2iY
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