Hawaii will get more than $16 million in federal “budget relief” funding to help the state offset the cost of providing prescription drugs for Hawaii residents eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration will forgive $4.3 billion in health care payments owed by states to the federal government through the end of the year. Hawaii's share is $16.6 million.
"We believe today’s action will help states as they struggle to maintain Medicaid and other budget priorities in these difficult economic times," Sebelius said in a news release.
The relief is made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The law granted a temporary, increase in the amount states receive from the federal government to help pay for their Medicaid programs.