Feds give Mass. fifth health insurance waiver

BOSTON—The federal government has granted Massachusetts a fifth extension in negotiations aimed at continuing the state's new universal health care law.

The Patrick administration announced Friday that the extension will retain a critical waiver from Medicaid rules until Sept. 8.

The state needs the $385 million annual waiver to continue using federal money as it shifts coverage from free emergency room care for the uninsured to a mix of private and government-sponsored insurance for all workers.

The extension covers Labor Day and the period when top officials will be attending the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Earlier this week, the state announced 439,000 people have gained health insurance since the law took effect in June 2006. The number of uninsured had previously been pegged at up to 650,000.