Massachusetts devises new health coverage for legal immigrants

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has announced that 31,000 legal immigrants whose state-subsidized health insurance was set to expire have received a last-minute reprieve—although their coverage will not resume until October. Using $40 million in emergency money designated by the Legislature, Patrick's health and insurance czars reached an agreement with CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, a subsidiary of Missouri-based Centene Corp., to provide basic medical care for the immigrants through its healthcare network.