Provide names of other journalists involved.
None.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
9/2/2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This article looks at the human costs of a decision to cut Connecticut’s State Medical Assistance for Noncitizens Act, which provided medical benefits for about 4,700 people in Connecticut who are in the U.S. legally but have not yet obtained citizenship. A woman who needed medication for her chemotherapy, a man who needed a prosthesis for his leg and a woman billed $50,000 for a short hospital stay due to a paperwork error.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
State legislative transcripts, Medicaid policy documents and individual medical records.
Explain types of human sources used.
Interviews with immigrants affected by the new law and their families and their representatives, state and hospital officials.
Results:
None.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Make sure to interview the immigrants in their home, especially with their family members present– it adds a dimension to the story that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.