LIHU‘E — The $229,850 Wilcox Memorial Hospital received from the federal government for care for uninsured and under-insured patients and other shortfalls pales in comparison to the amount of charity care the hospital provides annually, according to Kathy Clark. The
LIHU‘E — The $229,850 Wilcox Memorial Hospital received from the federal government for care for uninsured and under-insured patients and other shortfalls pales in comparison to the amount of charity care the hospital provides annually, according to Kathy Clark.
The hospital’s chief executive officer said Wilcox provided $1.6 million in charity care in 2008, and $2.8 million last year.
“We’re grateful that we’re getting $229,000,” she said, quoting the mission of the hospital and parent company Hawai‘i Pacific Health to provide accessible, quality care to all comers regardless of their ability to pay.
“I believe on Kaua‘i we have an obligation to do that.”
In addition to substantial charity care, in 2009 the hospital endured a $12.6 million shortfall between what it cost to provide care and what the federal and state governments paid them for that care, said Clark.
“It’s staggering in my mind. They don’t pay us what they should pay us. Hawai‘i’s health-care system is so fragile,” she said. “We just go the extra mile to provide extra care and bite the bullet.”
Clark said she hopes Kauaians understand what a terrific asset the hospital and its clinics are to the island.
The federal funds received by Wilcox are part of $14.4 million in federal funds, obtained by the state Department of Human Services from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to a DHS press release.
The money is not related to the federal stimulus package and no state funds are involved, the release states.
David Okabe, HPH executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, accepted the Wilcox check from Lillian Koller, DHS director, and Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona Jr. during a press conference on O‘ahu recently.
DHS will distribute an additional $6.9 million in federal funds to Hawai‘i public hospitals throughout the year, the release states.
There are two Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation public hospitals on Kaua‘i: Samuel Mahelona Medical Center in Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital at the West Kaua‘i Medical Center in Waimea. See an upcoming edition of The Garden Island for a story about the levels of those hospitals’ charity care and governmental shortfalls.
DHS used a creative approach to secure these “waiver” federal funds, states the release.
“While Hawai‘i is a national leader in health insurance coverage, we must continue to improve access to quality health care,” said Aiona.
“When our uninsured and under-insured residents get sick or injured, they come to hospital emergency rooms for help. Our administration has taken a proactive, aggressive approach to secure funds that help hospitals defray the cost of charity care,” said Aiona.
With this latest event, DHS has presented private and public hospitals with nearly $84 million in federal-only funds since 2005 through the DHS waiver.
DHS has also given hospitals another $31 million in federal and matching state funds since 2007 through the Congressional Disproportionate Share Hospital program, bringing the total to $115 million to date.
Prior to 2005, Hawai‘i hospitals had not received federal funds for charity care since 1994.
“As our state confronts a budget shortfall exceeding $1 billion, it is more important than ever to maximize federal revenue,” Koller said.
“This new federal funding obtained by DHS will help our hospitals remain financially viable so they can continue providing high-quality health care for all Hawai‘i residents, regardless of their ability to pay.”
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
