Kennedy, Romney push health plan
Seek assurance of funds from D.C.
Governor Mitt Romney and US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, political leaders from opposing parties but allies on the state's new healthcare plan, have separately begun exerting influence in Washington to ensure Massachusetts continues receiving $385 million in federal Medicaid funding that hinges on the new bill.
Kennedy canceled a trip to Bangalore and New Delhi, India, next week so he could help sell the plan to the US Department of Health and Human Services and speak at the bill signing, set for Wednesday at Faneuil Hall.
Kennedy said in an interview yesterday that he did not want to return from the trip to learn that ''the whole thing falls apart and I've had a nice trip to Bangalore."
''This has to be tied up," said Kennedy, adding that he spoke with a top HHS official, Mark McClellan, Thursday night about the state plan, which the Legislature passed overwhelmingly Tuesday.
To continue receiving the federal money each year, Massachusetts has to show HHS significant progress toward reducing the number of uninsured. The US government urged the state to approve the plan months ago, though, and it is still unclear whether Massachusetts is at risk of not receiving the full amount next year.
The initial signs, however, are positive.
''We've heard good things about the plan and are looking forward to being briefed," said Peter Ashkenaz, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a division of HHS.
Immediately after lawmakers passed the bill Tuesday, Romney reached out to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, who is close to the governor, and Romney's top aides have been in regular contact with Leavitt's office about the plan, said Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's communications director. ''Of course, we look forward to continuing our partnership with Senator Kennedy," Fehrnstrom said.
Arizona Senator John McCain, a potential Romney rival for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, apparently looks forward to that relationship, too. Kennedy, an iconic figure in the Democratic Party for decades, said McCain jokingly told him yesterday that he should get as close to Romney as possible at the bill signing.
''He said, 'Make sure you put both arms around him and get lots of pictures,' " Kennedy said.
Scott Helman can be reached at shelman@globe.com. 