State seeks two-week extension of Medicaid waiver
By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff
The state requested another two-week extension today of its Medicaid waiver to keep its landmark health care law running as officials negotiate with federal regulators over renewing the program.
Federal funding was slated to expire June 30, but the state has received two previous extensions, and a third extension would give the state until August 11 to reach an agreement.
At stake is more than $1 billion in federal funds over three years, which would be used to help subsidize insurance for low-income residents. The state has extended health care to more than 350,000 residents under its two-year old law, a higher number than anticipated, and that has stretched funds.
The waiver allows Massachusetts to provide health insurance to some residents with incomes higher than would be allowed under traditional Medicaid rules.
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Elizabeth Cooney covers health for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. She
previously reported on business and was an editor at the paper. Earlier in
her career, she edited medical books and journals at Little, Brown, and
worked for Boston magazine.Boston Globe Health and Science staff:
- Karen Weintraub, Deputy Health and Science Editor
- Gideon Gil, Health and Science Editor
- Ishani Ganguli, Short White Coat blogger
- Joshua U. Klein, M.D., Short White Coat blogger
