LT. GOVERNOR, DHS DIRECTOR PRESENT $14.4 MILLION TO HELP PUBLIC, PRIVATE HOSPITALS CARE FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. and Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Lillian Koller today distributed $14,432,000 in new Federal funding to public and private hospitals statewide to help ease their financial burden of treating uninsured patients. The check presentation ceremony took place at the Healthcare Association of Hawai`i headquarters in Honolulu.

"Our Administration remains committed to providing uninsured residents with access to quality healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "We continue to secure new Federal dollars that help our hospitals remain financially viable, as well as expand the State's Medicaid programs so even more of our residents have access to quality health insurance."

“The Lingle-Aiona Administration recognizes the critical role of Hawai’i’s public and private hospitals in maintaining a safety net for uninsured patients,” Director Koller said. “These Federal funds will help ensure that our hospitals continue to provide quality care for all the people of Hawai`i, including the neediest among us.”

Of the $14,432,000 DHS secured from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a total of $7.5 million went to 16 private hospitals to help cover their costs of treating uninsured patients during the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years. The remaining $6.932 million went to the Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) to help public hospitals.

This marks the third consecutive year the Lingle-Aiona Administration has obtained Federal funding to assist public and private hospitals with the cost of providing charity care. In 2005 and 2006, DHS distributed a total of more than $40.5 million to the hospitals. Prior to 2005, Hawai`i hospitals had not received Federal funds for charity healthcare since 1994.

Private hospitals receiving monies are:

Castle Medical Center    $460,500
Kahi Mohala Behavioral Healthcare    $42,750
Kahuku Hospital    $33,750   
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center    $454,500
Kapi`olani Medical Center at Pali Momi    $355,500
Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children    $1,092,000
Kuakini Medical Center    $213,750
Molokai General Hospital    $35,250
North Hawai`i Community Hospital    $116,250
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific    $111,000
Hawai`i Medical Center – East     $538,500
Hawai`i Medical Center – West    $381,750
Straub Clinic and Hospital    $610,500
The Queen’s Medical Center    $2,601,750
Wahiawa General Hospital    $188,250
Wilcox Memorial Hospital    $264,000
Total funding for private hospitals    $7,500,000
Funding for public hospitals through HHSC    $6,932,000
Total funding for public and private hospitals    $14,432,000

###

For more information, contact:        
DHS Acting PIO Toni Schwartz
Phone: 586-4882