Plan to Expand Kidney Treatment Options Expected to Reach Full Senate in March

Virgin Islands residents needing kidney dialysis treatment to maintain their health are expected to benefit from an expansion of services from the Health Department. For more than a year, Health officials have waged a court battle to make sure enough resources were available through an arrangement with a private healthcare provider.

A public official familiar with the outcome of that struggle recently described what appears to be a win-win deal between Health and Healthquest, LLC. According to Sen. Ray Fonseca, government health facilities will increase the number of available dialysis chairs on St. Thomas and St. Croix to cover the 219 service-dependent patients.

Health officials have also agreed to pay Healthquest $910,000 for services provided to patients referred to them by public hospitals for dialysis services.

Documents filed in Superior Court say Health took action after Healthquest owner and operator Dr. Walter Gardiner declared he would close his treatment centers sometime in 2023.