MA healthcare groups seek federal bailout

Healthcare groups in Massachusetts are urging Gov. Deval Patrick to use expected federal bailout money to shore up health programs slashed this fall because of the state's budget crisis. A coalition of three-dozen social service, healthcare, labor, and legal groups—dubbed Put Patients First—is mailing 100,000 Boston area voters a flier about the specific effect of recent cuts to Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance. The two institutions serve a large share of the region's low-income residents and, hospital officials say, are suffering from disproportionate state budget cuts.