Mass. Gov. Patrick Fighting Health Care Repeal

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is lending his support to the White House pitch to keep Republicans from repealing the president's health care overhaul.

In a conference call with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday, Patrick called the health care overhaul a moral imperative that will boost the nation's economic competitiveness.

Sebelius said repealing the law would restrict access to health care for millions while driving up the national deficit.

Massachusetts is cited as a leader in health care, and the federal law was modeled in part on the 2006 state law.

The Republican-led House was expected to vote Wednesday to repeal President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul.

Democrats still control the Senate.