Grant to help East Hartford clinic's patients see specialists

Uninsured or underinsured patients who receive basic medical care at East Hartford (CT) Community Care Inc. wait as long as nine months to see a specialist, and some never see one at all. Now a $50,000 state grant will allow the clinic to refer patients to specialists at the Eastern Connecticut Health Network and pay their consultation fees. If the partnership is successful, the program could be expanded, said state Sen. Mary Ann Handley. East Hartford Community Care officials said the money will pay for as many as 2,000 medical visits in 2009.