Guam mental health agency struggles to collect

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HAGATNA, Guam — Guam’s public mental health agency has only been able to collect $100 in billings in the past three months.

The Pacific Daily News reports the agency started charging for its services for the first time in February but it’s been tough to get patients to pay their bills.

Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center Director Ray Vega says 85 percent of patients qualify for Medicare, Medicaid and the Medically Indigent Program.

He says the agency is working on compliance that would allow seeking government reimbursement for services.

Vega says gross billings for the agency come to about $50,000 a month.

The agency this fiscal year is scheduled to receive nearly $17 million from taxpayers.