Massachusetts asks federal aid for hospitals treating poor

BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick is asking for more federal help for Massachusetts hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of those covered by the state-sponsored health plans Commonwealth Care and MassHealth.

Under an existing agreement, federal matching funds for these programs are scheduled to phase down during the current fiscal year and the next one.

Patrick is filing an amendment to the federal Medicaid waiver that would let the state claim matching funds on the full amount for both fiscal years.

Cambridge Health Alliance - the state's only public acute care hospital - would receive $216 million.

Another $115 million would go to six hospitals including Boston Medical Center, Brockton, Caritas Carney, Lawrence, Holyoke and Mercy hospitals.