By Helen Altonn

Hawaii's hospitals are not in good shape financially but $13.3 million in federal and state funds to help offset costs for charity care will help, says Richard E. Meiers, Healthcare Association of Hawaii president and chief executive officer.

The money - distributed to 15 public and private hospitals - includes $7.5 million in federal dollars obtained by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka from the Disproportionate Share Hospital payment program, plus nearly $5.8 million in matching state funds released by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The new federal money also requires state matching funds, which must be appropriated by the Legislature.

Meiers said the funding resulted from a partnership between the Lingle administration and Hawaii's congressional delegation.

"I have to give credit to this administration and Human Services Director Lillian Koller, who has made all kinds of efforts during the past six years to work with the delegations to get federal dollars we never got under previous administrations," he said.

The administration since 2005 has obtained about $175 million from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help defray hospital expenses for charity care, according to a DHS news release.

Divvying Up $13.3M for Isle Hospitals

» The Queen's Medical Center, $6,137,758

» Hawaii Medical Center-East, $1,203,267

» Castle Medical Center, $1,195,509

» Hawaii Pacific Health-Straub, $995,446

» Hawaii Medical Center-West, $989,276

» Kaiser Foundation Hospital, $646,982

» Hawaii Pacific Health - Pali Momi, $620,790

» North Hawaii Community Hospital, $251,918

» Hawaii Pacific Health - Wilcox Memorial Hospital, $384,446

» Wahiawa General Hospital, $325,426

» Kuakini Medical Center, $274,790

» Molokai General Hospital, $98,381

» Kahuku Hospital, $73,735

» Kahi Mohala, $63,363

» Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, $13,174

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081001_Hospitals_get_13M_for_charity_care.html

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 01, 2008