Orthopedic referrals to Hawaii now available through local Medicaid Office

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG Medicaid director, Sandra King Young has finalized and secured a provider agreement with an orthopedic clinic in Hawaii to provide orthopedic services for Medicaid beneficiaries from American Samoa.

In a meeting this week with the Orthopedic Associates of Hawaii (OAH), King-Young finalized the referral procedures between the Medicaid agency and OAH, according to the American Samoa Medicaid State Agency statement.

 And this is the first time that ASG has secured direct access specifically to specialized orthopedic services in Hawaii.

"The American Samoa Medicaid agency is ready to start referring Medicaid eligible beneficiaries for orthopedics to OAH in Hawaii,” said King-Young, adding that eligible beneficiaries are US Nationals, US Citizens, US Permanent Residents and all children 21 years and younger.

She explained that the only service not currently available at OAH for now are spinal cases. But OAH hopes to have their spinal specialists in the next year or so.

“Spinal cases will continue to be referred to New Zealand,” she said and noted that off-island referral for orthopedics like all Off-Island Medical referrals, begins at the LBJ Medical Center.

“Patients must be referred by LBJ to Medicaid. But the final decision for approval of the referral must be issued as accepted from OAH in Hawaii,” said King-Young.

The Medicaid agency will issue further guidance shortly. For more information, please contact the AS Medicaid State Agency at 699-4777.