NITIJELA OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

28TH CONSTITUTIONAL REGULAR SESSION, 2007
BILL NO: 152
P.L. 2007-93
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MARSHALL ISLANDS HEALTH (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2007
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A
BILL FOR AN
ACT

to amend Section 211 subsections (1) and (2) of the Marshall Islands Health Fund Act, 2002 (the principal Act) in order to provide for financial support to the Ministry of Health Services in the areas of “domestic medical referrals” and “outer islands primary health care”.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE NITIJELA OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS:

Section 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Marshall Islands Health (Amendment) Act, 2007.

Section 2. Amendments.

Section 211 of the principal Act is hereby amended to read in the following manner:

§211. Payments out of the Health Fund.

Payments may be made out of the Health Fund only for the purposes of this Act, and in the following manner:

(1) The Health Fund shall transfer to the Health Care Revenue Fund, for the purposes of the Health Care Revenue Fund, on a quarterly basis, a sum equal to fifty-five percent (55%) of the total quarterly contributions collected under Part IV of this Act.

(2) The remaining forty-five percent (45%) shall be utilized as follows:

(a) a sum equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of the remaining forty-five percent (45%) shall be transferred to the Ministry of Health Services on a quarterly basis, to support domestic medical referrals. “Domestic medical Referral” as used herein, refers to the evacuation of patients from other parts of the Republic, for medical treatment at the Majuro or Ebeye hospitals;

(b) a sum equal to seven and one half percent (7.5%) of the remaining forty-five percent (45%) shall be transferred to the Ministry of Health Services on a quarterly basis, to support primary health care in the outer islands; and 

(c) the reminder of the Fund shall be utilized for:

(i) the payment of benefits;

(ii) the repayment of any legitimate loans;

(iii) the costs and expenses of the administration of the Fund under this Act; and

(iv) for improving primary health care.

Section 3. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on the date of certification in accordance with the Article IV Section 21 of the Constitution of the Republic and the Rules of Procedure of the Nitijela.

CERTIFICATE

I hereby certify:

(1) That Nitijela Bill No: 152 was passed by the Nitijela of the Marshall Islands on the 25th day of September, 2007; and

(2) That I am satisfied that Nitijela Bill No: 152 was passed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Rules of Procedures of the Nitijela.

I hereby place my signature before the Clerk this 29th day of October, 2007.

Attest:

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Litokwa Tomeing
Speaker,
Nitijela of the Marshall Islands	________________________
Joe E Riklon
Clerk,
Nitijela of the Marshall Islands