“With the Public Health Emergency ending on May 11, 2023, the VI Medicaid’s unwind process began in June 2023, requiring all members to be recertified and since then, enrollment has reduced by 44 percent,” George said. “Even with a significant decrease in members, contrary to the department’s anticipation, the program’s claims expenditures have not reduced accordingly. For Fiscal Year 2024, claim cycles average $8.6 million per month while in Fiscal Year 2023, claim cycles averaged $9.3 million in expenditures. At almost three quarters of the year, the department has spent 81 percent of what it spent in all of FY23 for claims, and at the end of Quarter 2, had spent 9 percent more on claims than it did in Q2 of Fiscal Year 2023.”

The current and soon-to-be past president of the University of the Virgin Islands offered his last report as part of the regular agenda for a scheduled board meeting on Saturday. David Hall is stepping aside after leading UVI for 15 years.

Margaret Sayers, also known as Ms. Maggie, was the honoree at this year's St. John Celebration. Ms. Maggie, who is 85 years old, is known for her commitment and dedication to promoting the St. John Celebration throughout the years. She started getting involved in Celebration when she was 15.

Crucian native Kathleen Dowling will launch her first book, “A Closer Look At Emancipation 1848,” with an interactive PowerPoint presentation. The public is invited to attend Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the UVI Medical Simulation Center. The book will be for purchase and will be signed during the event.