Healthcare You Can Depend On

Access to quality healthcare close to home is essential to the well-being of our people and communities. A Roach Francis Administration will focus on four priorities: stabilizing our hospitals, growing the healthcare workforce, bringing care closer to home, and advancing better health outcomes across the Territory. From Day One, we will pursue practical solutions that increase access to care, improve system performance, and help Virgin Islanders live healthier lives.

Fix the hospitals' finances before the new walls go up.

First 100 Days

• The Virgin Islands is investing billions of dollars to rebuild our hospitals, but new buildings alone will not solve the challenges facing our healthcare system. Financial instability, billing problems, staffing shortages, and operational inefficiencies continue to affect patient care and hospital performance.

• We will begin a comprehensive review of hospital operations, strengthen revenue collection systems, support independent oversight of hospital reconstruction projects, and work with hospital leadership to improve financial performance and accountability.

  New hospital buildings alone will not improve healthcare. Hospitals must also be financially stable, properly staffed, and equipped to provide quality care.

Recruit and Grow Our Own.

First 100 Days

• Hospitals and clinics continue to struggle to recruit and retain the healthcare professionals needed to meet growing demand for services. These shortages place additional pressure on providers and can make it harder for patients to access timely care.

• We will expand recruitment and retention efforts, strengthen partnerships with the University of the Virgin Islands, maximize available federal workforce programs, and create stronger pathways for Virgin Islanders to enter healthcare careers. We will also develop incentives that help attract and retain healthcare professionals in the Territory.

  A stronger healthcare workforce means greater access to care, shorter wait times, and better health outcomes for everyone.

Bring Healthcare Closer to Home.

• Residents should not have to leave the Territory or wait months for appointments to receive the care they need. Access to primary care, behavioral health services, specialty care, and long-term care remains a challenge for many families.

• We will expand community health services, strengthen telehealth access, improve behavioral healthcare services, support preventative health initiatives, and help ensure residents can receive more of the care they need close to home.

  Healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and available when people need it most.

Fight for Healthcare Equity: Putting Virgin Islanders on Equal Footing

• Federal healthcare policies continue to place the Virgin Islands at a disadvantage when it comes to funding, reimbursement, and access to critical services. These disparities create additional burdens for patients, providers, and healthcare institutions.

• We will work with our federal partners and the Delegate to Congress to pursue equitable treatment under Medicare and Medicaid, advocate for policies that strengthen healthcare funding, and ensure the Virgin Islands receives the resources needed to meet the healthcare needs of our people.

• Quality healthcare should never be dependent on where you live. Every Virgin Islander deserves access to the same opportunities and protections available elsewhere in the United States.

Read the full plan here.