State's Medicaid waiver extended again

September 6, 2008

The state was granted another two-week extension yesterday of its Medicaid waiver to keep its pioneering healthcare law running until at least Sept. 22, as officials negotiate with federal regulators over renewing the program. Federal funding was slated to expire June 30, but the state has received five previous extensions. At stake is roughly $11 billion in federal funds over three years that is used to help subsidize insurance for low-income residents. The state has provided subsidized healthcare to more than 245,000 residents under its two-year-old law, a higher number than anticipated, and that has stretched its budget. The waiver allows Massachusetts to provide health insurance to some residents with incomes higher than would typically be allowed under traditional Medicaid rules.

Citing shell fishing area closures this year due to red tide, Governor Deval Patrick has asked the federal government to declare a commercial fishery failure, an action that would make the industry eligible for disaster assistance funds. Aid is needed to "help sustain shellfish fishing and prevent a local collapse of the industry," Patrick said in a letter to US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. He estimated that the closures had caused hardship for about 1,100 commercial shell fishermen, and 35 fish farmers in 11 coastal communities. More than 600,000 acres of shell fishing areas on the North and South Shores, Cape Cod, and Boston Harbor - as well as offshore clam beds - were closed at various times between April and July due to red tide, the governor's office said.

An 80-year-old woman died after being struck by a car in Wayland Thursday night, police said. Police were called to West Plain Street at about 7:44 p.m. The woman was struck near a crosswalk by a gray Ford van that was traveling east, police said in a statement. The woman, whose name was not released pending notification of her family, was taken to the MetroWest Medical Center in Natick, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., police said. The accident is under investigation by Wayland and State Police. Police asked anyone with information to call them at 508-358-4721.

A New Hampshire infant who escaped death in July's tornado has escaped injury in a car crash. Little John Paul Stevens was pulled from the rubble of his grandparents' home in Deerfield after the tornado in July. His grandmother, Brenda Stevens, died protecting him. On Thursday, the baby was in a minivan that smashed into a store in Raymond. Police say the driver lost control and hit the Yankee Food Market. Police say the baby, the driver, and another child in the van were not hurt.

A brain-injured girl whose case led to reforms of the state's child welfare system will not be forced to testify at the trial of the stepfather accused of abusing her. A judge ruled Thursday that 14-year-old Haleigh Poutre, who is still in rehabilitation, will not have to appear at Jason Strickland's assault trial next month. She also will not have to testify at a pretrial hearing on her competency. State child welfare officials and lawyers representing Haleigh said testifying could harm the girl. Strickland and his late wife, Holly, Haleigh's adoptive mother, were accused of causing injuries that left Haleigh in a coma three years ago. Strickland has pleaded not guilty. (AP)

West Nile virus has been discovered in mosquitoes in Milton this week, according to the state Department of Public Health and an e-mail from the Milton Public Schools to parents. The schools have not modified any sports schedules, however. Earlier this week, West Nile was found in crows in Haverhill, Southampton, and Winchester, and in blue jays in Lexington and Lynn. Mosquitoes tested positive earlier for West Nile in Attleboro, Boston, Brookline, Canton, Danvers, Easton, Lexington, Quincy, Seekonk, Somerville, Stoughton, Waltham, and Whitman.