Hawaii's hospitals missed out on $15 million in federal funding last year because Gov. Linda Lingle did not release matching money, but they received $14.4 million that does not need to be matched, said George Greene, president and chief executive officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona and state Human Services Director Lillian Koller presented checks to local hospitals yesterday to help compensate the hospitals for the cost of caring for uninsured patients and other shortfalls.

The money was obtained from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Greene said the funding is provided under a Medicaid waiver, with no state match required.

Last year's $15 million federal allocation had to be matched with $12 million, which the Legislature

provided. But the governor did not release it because of the state deficit.

The state could draw on the $15 million through December if state money becomes available.

The new grant for $14.4 million includes $7.5 million for 16 private hospitals statewide and $6.9 million for the state's public hospitals. The 16 hospitals lost $187 million last year on patient care, according to an Ernst & Young report in November.

The Human Services Department said it will distribute $6.9 million to the public hospitals throughout the year.