Hospitals to receive $8.1M to aid uninsured

Sixteen private hospitals will receive more than $8.1 million in federal funds to provide charity care to uninsured and underinsured patients, the state announced yesterday.

Lt. Gov. James R. "Duke" Aiona and state Department of Human Services Director Lillian Koller made the announcement at a news conference at the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

With the support of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, the department obtained the money through the Congressional Disproportionate Share Hospital program. The state is required to provide matching funds, which it obtained through the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.

The Human Services Department also is attempting to obtain an additional $2 million or more for private hospitals through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund.

With this latest grant, private hospitals have received $39 million in federal and matching state funds since 2007 through the Disproportionate Share Hospital program.

A total of $145 million in federal and state support has been provided for charity care at hospitals over the past five years. The department also will provide public hospitals with an extra $21.9 million in supplemental funding later this year.

Private hospitals receiving part of the $8,119,184 in federal funds are:
» Castle Medical Center, $461,326.
» Hawaii Medical Center East, $325,449.
» Hawaii Medical Center West, $393,856.
» Kahi Mohala, $81,135.
» Kahuku Medical Center, $24,109.
» Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, $299,656.
» Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, $320,901.
» Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, $1,417,684.
» Kuakini Medical Center, $281,545.
» Molokai General Hospital, $41,694.
» North Hawaii Community Hospital, $118,198.
» Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, $109,288.
» Straub Clinic & Hospital, $618,361.
» The Queen's Medical Center, $3,266,736.
» Wahiawa General Hospital, $110,420.
» Wilcox Memorial Hospital, $248,826.