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Extra Revenue To Save Immigrant Health Care Plan — For Now

Secretary for Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez says the state will use some of that money to cover the rising number of residents enrolling in Masshealth and to fund coverage for legal immigrants, specifically a program that was scheduled to run out of money this month.

"We determined we had sufficient resources to cover that additional cost, and it was a priority of the governor's to insure that we continue coverage for legal, taxpaying immigrants who would otherwise lose it," Gonzalez said.

With improving revenue, Gonzalez says, state spending next year can grow 3.7 %, but rising costs will still leave a $1.5 billion budget shortfall.

This program aired on January 19, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Rachel Zimmerman

Rachel Zimmerman Reporter
Rachel Zimmerman previously reported on health and the intersection of health and business for WBUR. She is working on a memoir about rebuilding her family after her husband’s suicide. 

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