Schatz: Kapiolani Medical Center To Receive More Than $10.7 Million In New Federal Funding To Support Patients, Protect Providers During Covid-19 Pandemic

HONOLULU — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children received $10,771,601 in new federal COVID-19 relief funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kapiolani Medical Center is the only children’s hospital in Hawai‘i, providing care to children and women regardless of their families’ insurance status or ability to pay.

“Hawai‘i’s hospitals are experiencing increasing hospitalizations, and they need all the financial support they can get,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding brings much need relief to Kapiolani Medical Center, ensuring they can continue to provide high quality care to vulnerable children and women.”

Children’s hospitals have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Many have suspended nonemergency surgeries, purchased additional personal protective equipment (PPE), and served as a backup to other hospitals to support patient surges. As a result, they have faced lost revenues and increased expenses due to COVID-19.

The new funding for Kapiolani is part of the $175 billion Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

This week, HHS also announced $300,000 in new federal funding for The Queen’s Medical Center (QMC) to increase access to telehealth services. Specifically, the funds will be used to expand QMC’s Telestroke Network, which connects QMC’s neurology experts to emergency doctors in rural communities to help make treatment decisions quickly for patients who don't have access to specialists.

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