Private hospitals in Hawaii received $9.1 million in federal money Thursday that is intended to help offset the cost of providing health care to people who are poor and/or uninsured.

Patricia McManaman, director of the state Department of Human Services, distributed the federal money to 15 private hospitals across the state.

"Hawaii’s private hospitals play a vital role in maintaining the health care safety net for uninsured and underinsured residents," she said in a statement.

"By securing and distributing these federal funds, these hospitals can continue serving everyone — regardless of their ability to pay," she said.