Some who are immunocompromised or who care for an at-risk loved one are at higher risk now as COVID restrictions begin to fall away.
Jenna Carlesso
Jenna is CT Mirror’s Health Reporter, focusing on health access, affordability, quality, equity and disparities, social determinants of health, health system planning, infrastructure, processes, information systems, and other health policy. Before joining CT Mirror Jenna was a reporter at The Hartford Courant for 10 years, where she consistently won statewide and regional awards. Jenna has a Master of Science degree in Interactive Media from Quinnipiac University and a Bachelor or Arts degree in Journalism from Grand Valley State University.
Posted inHealth
Ban on flavored vaping products fails to win passage for third straight year
The flavor ban had early momentum when the Public Health Committee approved the measure in March, but the bill stalled.
Posted inHealth
Cost growth benchmarks in CT budget; prescription drug price cap fails
An ambitious bill to limit annual increases in the cost of prescription drugs failed to gain traction in the legislature this year.
Posted inHealth
Three extensive bills targeting children’s mental health win final passage
Passage of the bills was a first step toward confronting what experts have called an escalating crisis in Connecticut and elsewhere.
Posted inHealth
Legislature OKs Medicaid for undocumented children 12 and younger
A more ambitious bill that would have opened the program to those 18 and younger, regardless of their immigration status, failed in committee.
Posted inHealth
Bill focusing on mental health supports for kids clears Senate
The bill would bolster school mental health programs, increase wages for child care workers and create a minority teacher scholarship fund.
Posted inHealth
House passes bill expanding access to children’s mental health services
The bill is one of three major pieces of legislation that would improve access to mental health services for children and young adults.
Posted inHealth
Insurance exchange launches enrollment period for low-income families
Residents whose household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level can get low- or no-cost health plans via Access Health CT.
Posted inPolitics
Senate passes sweeping children’s mental health legislation
The first of three bills meant to improve services for children’s mental health in CT cleared the Senate on Friday with overwhelming support.
Posted inPolitics
Bills to support children’s mental health come with lofty price tags
Three ambitious bills that address the growing crisis of children’s mental health in CT would devote millions to a range of initiatives.
Posted inHealth
CT physicians call for Medicaid expansion for undocumented children
Expanding access to health care, particularly for children, has been a priority for majority Democrats in the legislature.
Posted inPolitics
Bill to help terminally ill end their lives won’t advance this session
Four Republicans and one Democratic senator voted against a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to access life-ending medication.
Posted inHealth
Hopes dim for aid in dying bill to pass this session
The bill made it out of the Public Health Committee but Senate Democrats are sending it to another committee before calling it for a vote.
Posted inHealth
Gov. Lamont tests positive for COVID-19
The positive result came during a regularly scheduled rapid self-test. The governor is asymptomatic and is awaiting the results of a PCR test.
Posted inHealth
CT doesn’t expect to mandate 2nd COVID booster shots
State officials are encouraging people with multiple co-morbidities and older residents to get a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.