(Hagåtña, Guam) – In an effort to expand access to healthcare and improve public health on Guam, Senator Jesse Lujan introduced Bill No. 220-37(COR) on Friday, last week. Lujan’s bill adds prescription medicines to the list of exemptions from the Business Privilege Tax (BPT).
“This bill was a result of constituent feedback from the public hearing on my bill to exempt the BPT on food and medicine for a year, Bill No.4-37(COR). We received testimony in support of bill 4-37 as well as requests for us to consider forming legislation to completely exempt prescription medicines from the BPT. After engaging with the healthcare providers then, and also after attending the dinner hosted recently by the Guam Medical Association to discuss improving healthcare on Guam, I believe this legislation will help both our people and medical community,” Lujan stated.
Bill No. 220-37(COR) is “An Act to Add a New § 26203 (f) To Article 2, Chapter 26, Title 11 Guam Code Annotated, Relative to Expanding the Business Privilege Tax Exemptions List to Include Prescription Drugs,” and is co-sponsored by Senators Christopher M. Dueñas, Frank Blas, Jr., Thomas J. Fisher, and Chris Barnett.
“Ensuring access to healthcare by exempting prescription drugs is not just a matter of health, but a testament to our commitment as a governing body to ease the financial pain we are all facing and make essential medications affordable. This should provide relief to both our healthcare providers who dispense the prescribed medications and the patients who need them,” Lujan said.
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