Report: E-mails show Connecticut health insurance program push

Hartford Courant, August 4, 2008

Connecticut's social services commissioner warned Gov. M. Jodi Rell's chief of staff in June against rushing to launch a new affordable health insurance program for the uninsured, according to newly published e-mails. In a June 4 message to M. Lisa Moody, Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael Starkowski warned of the risks associated with rushing the new health plan for uninsured adults before it was ready. The e-mails, obtained by a newspaper under an open records request, come amid concerns from state legislators that only one Connecticut hospital has signed on to the new Charter Oak Health Plan network and there's been a lag in signing up doctors and other medical providers.