The July 21st charter flight that will be taking patients, students, military personnel and others from the territory to Honolulu is being paid by Medicaid. The flight will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines.
Director of the American Samoa Medicaid Office, Sandra King-Young explains that Medicaid is paying for the charter using local and federal funds like they would pay for a Medivac or any other payments for Medicaid beneficiaries.
KHJ News asked for the cost of the charter.
The director said she wasn’t sure she can disclose this information but will check first with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
As for non Medicaid patients who will be traveling on the charter flight, King-Young says federal law requires they pay the value of their seat for the cost share, as Medicaid cannot pay for seats for people who are not Medicaid patients being referred for medical care.
The cost of the one way ticket is $884. Travelers have until July 17 to pay their fares or they will be dropped from the official charter manifest.
The number of people cleared to travel should be known by today at the earliest, said the director.
Seat allotments were given to LBJ for medical referrals, to the Attorney General’s Office for students and to the Department of Homeland Security for military and all others.
The flight will not carry any passengers on the flight from Honolulu but will be bringing cargo.
