Connecticut Gov. Rell Keeps HUSKY Kids Insurance Program Separate From Adult Coverage Program

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 19 Nov 2008 - 5:00 PST

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Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell (R) on Friday overturned a plan that required physicians and hospitals participating in the HUSKY health coverage program for children to join the new Charter Oak health plan for uninsured adults, the AP/Hartford Courant reports. Democrats in the General Assembly, activists for the uninsured and the majority of the state's congressional delegation were concerned that linking the two programs would put health care services for children at risk because of an inadequate network of health care providers. Physicians and hospitals have been slow to join Charter Oak because of concerns over reimbursement rates.

David Dearborn, a spokesperson for Connecticut's Department of Social Services, said that now that the two are separated, the state expects the number of medical providers participating in HUSKY to increase because it is a "known product and they already have patients that are enrolled in HUSKY" (AP/Hartford Courant, 11/15).

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