American Samoa Joins NGA Benefits Systems Academy
The U.S. territory is one of three jurisdictions chosen nationwide for a year-long program to modernize health and nutrition benefit systems.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Healthcare
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The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices selected American Samoa for the NGA Policy Academy to Strengthen Benefits Systems Through Innovative Technology. The territory is one of three jurisdictions chosen, alongside Louisiana and Hawaii.
Why it matters
Medicaid and the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program both operate under capped federal funding, making efficient, well-connected benefit systems essential. The Academy aims to help the territory deliver these benefits more effectively within those limits.
American Samoa is one of 3 jurisdictions selected nationwide for the year-long NGA Policy Academy, alongside Louisiana and Hawaii. The Academy team will focus on four priorities, though the specific outcomes of those priorities have not yet been reported.
The players
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices is the research and policy arm of the National Governors Association, which provides technical assistance and peer learning to state and territorial governments.
LBJ Tropical Medical Center
LBJ Tropical Medical Center is the only hospital in American Samoa and serves as a central provider of medical care for the territory.
The details
The Academy provides national expertise, peer learning, and hands-on technical assistance to modernize systems that deliver health and nutrition benefits. American Samoa's team includes the Department of Human and Social Services, the American Samoa Medicaid Agency, LBJ Tropical Medical Center, and the Office of the Governor.
Timeline
The NGA Policy Academy is a year-long program for American Samoa.
Roadmap
The NGA Policy Academy is a national technical assistance program that brings peer learning to governments modernizing health and nutrition benefit systems. American Samoa's selection extends that program to a U.S. territory whose Medicaid and nutrition programs face capped federal funding.
Residents of American Samoa who rely on Medicaid or the nutrition assistance program may see faster application processing and fewer repeated forms and office visits. A stronger EBT system is also expected to support prompt reimbursement for local retailers.
The takeaway
Modernizing benefit systems under capped federal funding depends on coordination across health, human services, and nutrition agencies. American Samoa's Academy team brings those agencies together to address that challenge.
Further reading
Explore more on the Healthcare section for related coverage of benefit systems and public health programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Samoa News.
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