St. Croix Women’s Health Provider Says Insurance Gaps Are Limiting Access to Specialized Care

ST. CROIX — Limited insurance coverage and reimbursement barriers are complicating access to specialized healthcare for women and girls in the Virgin Islands, according to Dr. Sascha James-Conterelli, a Crucian healthcare provider who recently opened a private practice at Sunny Isles Medical Center. A sixth-generation Crucian and director of the Nurse-Midwifery Program at New York University, Dr. James-Conterelli said her goal in returning care to St. Croix is to “ensure that there's comprehensive, seamless care for women and children.” Her practice provides services including OB/GYN care, postpartum support, holistic midwifery, breast and cervical cancer screening, weight management and depression screening, among others. Part of that model involves a partnership with a mainland provider so patients requiring specialized treatment can be transferred or seen outside the territory when necessary. Dr. James-Conterelli said the arrangement is intended to ensure patients can be “seamless...