Baseball playoffs haven't even started, but they're already celebrating in Boston. Yesterday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced an agreement with CMS to provide a new three-year Medicaid waiver to support the state's health reform program.

The renewed waiver grants the state $21.2 billion in total spending authority ($10.6 billion in federal funding) over the next three years—an increase of $4.3 billion over the initial $16.9 billion 2006 waiver. Since Massachusetts passed its landmark legislation, 439,000 of the states estimated 650,000 uninsured have gained coverage—191,000 through private insurance, 176,000 through the state-subsidized Commonwealth Care and 72,000 through Medicaid. Massachusetts alone accounted for more than 28 percent of the 1.3-million decrease in uninsured seen in the latest census numbers.

The renewed waiver is integral to helping Massachusetts continue to expand coverage to its citizens and demonstrates the federal-state partnership necessary to improve our struggling health system.

In baseball, a clutch hitter who can go deep into counts is crucial to extending rallies. The latest waiver provides a similar extension to a reform effort that has seen government, businesses, and individuals step up to the plate.