CommCare Bridge Extended
Through June 2011

 

After significant advocacy efforts, the Governor submitted and the Legislature passed a supplemental budget which funded CommCare Bridge through the end of the fiscal year. This is great news for the over 20,000 immigrants covered by the program, which will now continue through at least the end of June 2011.

The CeltiCare Bridge plan covers roughly 22,775 legal immigrants statewide who lost their Commonwealth Care coverage in August 2009 due to state budget cuts. The fate of this plan has been uncertain, with repeated threats of elimination, given the ongoing shortfalls in the state budget for MassHealth and other health programs.

The plan had been slated to end on December 31, The MGH Community News reported last month that it would be extended to January 31. If this program eventually sunsets, its members would automatically fall back onto MassHealth Limited and/or Health Safety Net.

-From “Starting 2011 with great news!”, MIRA Coalition, e-mail Cristina Aguilera, Campaign Organizer, January 04, 2011.

 

1/11