Kennedy fights for Massachusetts Medicaid

Despite beginning treatment in his battle with brain cancer, Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy has placed a flurry of phone calls to top Bush administration officials in a bid to make sure the state continues receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid money. Kennedy spoke with Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and Josh Bolten, the chief of staff to President Bush. He also had a conversation with Governor Deval Patrick, who is meeting this morning with Leavitt to discuss extending a Medicaid waiver that is set to expire June 30. Massachusetts would probably lose at least $600 million if the waiver negotiations fall through.