25 Jan 2006

American Samoa Senate asks court to stop higher hospital fees

11:15 am on 25 January 2006

The American Samoan Senate has asked the courts to issue a preliminary injunction stopping the LBJ Hospital from charging higher hospital fees which went into effect on November 1st.

The Senators claim that the Hospital Authority Board did not fully comply with the requirements to publicize the fee increases and the date of a public hearing to discuss the rates.

The Senate says the board did not adequately convey its intention to increase the fees and that the language used in the notices was vague and ambiguous.

The Senate asks the court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the hospital charging the higher medical fees, and order that the hospital refund all fees collected under the amended regulation.