Health advocates left reeling after hearing Massachusetts budget plan

Several key public health programs face sharp cuts under the Massachusetts budget proposed by Governor Deval Patrick for the next fiscal year. The $28 billion spending plan also freezes Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals who care for poor patients, after steep cuts made in October. The state's closely observed health insurance initiative, emerged largely, but not entirely, untouched in the budget blueprint. A program that provided $3.5 million to help the uninsured enroll for health coverage was eliminated.