August 16, 2005

Honorable M. Jodi Rell
Governor
Executive Chambers
State Capitol
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Governor Rell:

As you are aware, a New Haven coalition â€" which includes the City of New Haven, Yale New Haven Hospital, the Hospital of St. Raphael's, and the Yale School of Medicine â€" has filed a request to the Freedom of Information Commissioner asking for the immediate release of documents which will disclose how $626 million of taxpayers money is being annually spent by Connecticut HMO's.

For nearly nine months, this effort has met resistance from Department of Social Services and little support from your office. It's time the stonewalling ended. Today, on behalf of 25,000 New Haven residents who are enrolled in the state's Medicaid and SAGA Support Programs â€" and the taxpayers who pay for their services â€" I request that you call for the immediate release of these critical documents. Furthermore, I am calling for an investigation into by the FOI Commissioner as to why the DSS has refused to make these documents available.

The release of these documents is important for the following reasons:

1. Information related to the performance of DSS managed care contracts will provide valuable insight on how $626 million of taxpayer money is being spent

2. The information will shed light on whether low income residents are being denied the medical care they need because reimbursement rates to providers are too low

3. The documents will disclose how much money is being spent on direct health care services versus HMO administrative costs

These points are impossible to answer without accurate financial data including relevant documentation and rate information. For a reminder why it's so important for Connecticut residents to have access to this information we need only look to NY State's Medicaid system which is under investigation for having squandered billions in taxpayers money through an inefficient and at times corrupt system.

I have written to the Freedom of Information Commission Chairman echoing these sentiments and called for the immediate release of these documents. Ultimately though, it's up to youâ€"the Governor---to set a standard for transparency and demand that state departments, including DSS, make requested information freely available. Taking this step now would help disclose whether the state's Medicaid system is being well-run, and would help restore the public's faith and trust in state government, something you have said you are committed to doing.

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor