Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Requests Additional Funding for Health Insurance Law
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), in a supplemental budget request released on Monday, is seeking an additional $153.1 million to help cover costs of the state's health insurance law, the New York Times reports. The state had approved $472 million for the law this fiscal year, but enrollment in the state's subsidized health insurance program Commonwealth Care was higher than expected.
Cyndi Roy, a spokesperson for Patrick, said this year's shortfall would be offset with surplus revenue in the state's general fund. Patrick has requested $869 million for the program in next year's budget, but aides have said that amount will not be enough as enrollment continues to grow (Sack, New York Times, 4/17).
