Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s decision to fire four health insurers that wouldn’t comply with the state Freedom of Information Act is being hailed as another step toward requiring businesses that perform government functions to be more accountable to the public.

The HMOs, which were paid more than $700 million by the state to administer a children’s health insurance program, had refused to reveal how much they pay doctors for various services, saying the information is proprietary.