The Senate yesterday rejected the governor's nomination of Seiuli Elisapeta Ponausuia as director of the Health Department, after the nominee failed to garner a majority vote to get confirmation.  Read more

Technicians with the Emergency Medical Services are still trying to come to terms with the fact that EMS Manager Galumalemana Fuapopo “Popo” Avegalio has been placed on 30 days suspension to be terminated. This has been confirmed by EMS officials who spoke to Samoa News on condition of anonymity.  Read more

The LBJ Medical Center chief executive officer Mike Gerstenberger has confirmed that Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga is no longer employed by the medical center, while the long time hospital physician says LBJ didn’t want to renew his contract.  Read more

Another surprise: veteran LBJ doctor transferred from CMO position

The Senate Health/Hospital Committee held an emergency closed door hearing yesterday morning after it was informed by the Senate President’s Office about Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga, who was surprised to learn that he is no longer an employee of the LBJ Medical Center.  Read more

Another surprise: veteran LBJ doctor transferred from CMO position

The Senate Health/Hospital Committee held an emergency closed door hearing yesterday morning after it was informed by the Senate President’s Office about Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga, who was surprised to learn that he is no longer an employee of the LBJ Medical Center.  Read more

Former LBJ Medical Center physician, Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga is preparing to set up a clinic next week at the Department of Health main office in Fagaalu to serve patients who are still seeking his medical help and especially his Samoan language skills when it comes to medical terms which are easily understood by elderly patients.  Read more

 Ti’otala Lewis Wolman 

Twenty-two percent (22%) of American Samoa’s voting age population “united for change” on November 20,  to give Governor Lolo Moliga a six-point margin of victory over Faoa Sunia.  Read more

Bold actions must be taken to take government, the people out of jeopardy 

Unbudgeted personnel action will be rescinded, unbudgeted positions will be suspended, and a freeze on annual increments and overtime are  being imposed. These are some of the “cost containment measures”, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga put into effect as of last Friday, through a memo. They are meant to last through the current fiscal year, unless amended, based on ASG’s poor financial condition.  Read more

 Ti’otala Lewis Wolman 

I don’t fully agree with all of the opinions and interpretations expressed (by me) in my commentaries, but that’s okay. My primary motivation in writing a commentary is to provoke conversation about public matters. Being “right” or “wrong” is a secondary motivation.  Read more

Ti’otala Lewis Wolman 

This is a short column, because the idea is so simple.

The Fono should pass a “Whistleblower Law” that provides incentives for citizens to alert the authorities regarding waste, fraud and abuse in the American Samoa Government.  Read more

LBJ and ASTCA boards, DOC and Parks & Rec departments 

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga on Tuesday appointed Tofoitaufa Sandra King-Young as chairperson of the newly reconstituted American Samoa Medical Center (LBJ) board of directors, and named four other new members.  Read more

Not all faipule given a chance to ask their “one” question 

Thursday during the House confirmation hearing for ASG Treasurer nominee Falema'o Phil Pili, tensions rose when Ituau Faipule Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai was given a chance to question the witness but instead, addressed his colleagues first and said that work in the House of Representatives is the work of the people, for the people.  Read more

E silia i le $1 miliona le tupe o le a le maua e le Falemai o le LBJ i Fagaalu, pe afai ae faataunuu fuafuaga faataoto a le kovana sili ma le faigamalo i le toe tuu i lalo o le totogi o ana tautua, e pei ona saunoa i ai le afioga i le alii faipule ia Taotasi Archie Soliai i luma o le maota o sui i le vaiaso ua tuana’i.  Read more

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. (CSM) Motusa Tuileama To’atolu Nua was yesterday confirmed by the Senate in a 14-2 vote as director of the Department of Health. He goes before a House hearing today with a vote expected thereafter by the full membership.  Read more

O le Aso Lulu na te’a nei na faia ai se faaiuga a le Pulesili o le LBJ ia Michael Gerstenberger, e faamalolo ai le Pulesili o le Vaega a le EMS, le afioga ia Galumalemana Fuapopo Avegalio, ma tuuina atu ai se tusi mai le susuga a Peseta Sa Mavaega, o ia lea o lo o faauluulu i ai le EMS, i le aso ananafi, Fepuari 7, e faailoa atu i ai le tofia o Soloi Lagoo e avea ma Pulesili le tumau o le EMS.  Read more

Retired U.S. Army CSM Motusa Tuileama To’atolu Nua was unanimously confirmed in the House in a 19-0 vote and a passing vote of 14-2 in the Senate, as director of the Department of Health.  Read more

"No justifiable reason for such drastic action" says Lolo 

“Is this the type of management and leadership model being utilized to run the hospital?” was the question posed by Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga to Sandra King, Chairperson of the LBJ Board in a strongly worded letter sent, regarding the sudden suspension of EMS Manager Galumalemana Fuapopo “Popo” Avegalio last week Thursday.  Read more

Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono has called for the ASG Health Regulatory Board to suspend or revoke the license of any physician who is responsible for a malpractice lawsuit against the American Samoa Government, saying that more oversight is needed by the board to monitor those who are issued a license to practice medicine in the territory.  Read more

Allow us to proceed with policy 

The LBJ Board has respectfully asked Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga to step aside and allow the board to proceed with personnel policies and procedures outlined in the hospital’s Human Resources Personnel Policy and Administration Manual, regarding the sudden suspension of EMS Manager Galumalemana Fuapopo “Popo” Avegalio, last week.  Read more

O se tusi na tuuina atu e le tofa Velega Savali Jr i le alii kovana ia Lolo Matalasi Moliga i le aso 19 o Fepuari, 2014, ua toe fa’amautuina ai lana fa’amavaega mai le avea ma totino o le Komiti Fa’afoe a le LBJ.  Read more

Fees will not exceed $20 a week, even if visits are more than once a week 

The LBJ Medical Center is now implementing a facility fee of $20 for dialysis visits that was suppose to have already been in place last July.  Read more

I se faatalatalanoaga ma le Samoa News i le vaiaso nei, na taua ai e le susuga a Mike Gerstenberger e faapea, o le $20 lea ua amata faamamalu e le falema’i mo tagata e asia le potu faamama toto, e le o se siitaga fou, ae o se vaega o siitaga na pasia e le Falema’i talu mai le tausaga na te’a nei.  Read more

“O se fuafuaga poto ma ua talafeagai foi i le taimi ua fuafuaina ai,” o ni manatu fa’aalia ai a ni isi o le atunu’u e faatatau i se fuafuaga a le Komiti Faafoe a le LBJ, mo le faatulagaina o se Faalapotopotoga Saili Tupe mo le falemai.
 
Na taua e le susuga a Atanoa Lealai’asa o Pava’ia’i lea ua silia ma le lima masina o ona fa’aaogaina le tautua a le Potu Faamama Toto, “ana faavae mai e le falema’i le fuafuaga lenei mai le tele o tausaga ua mavae, faapenei e le o toe pagatia le atunuu i le taugata o pili.”  Read more

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is keen on making sure that American Samoa gets every penny it is entitled to under the Medicaid program, through provisions of federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) better known as Obamacare.  Read more