Malloy touts new initiatives

In advance of his Feb. 6 budget unveiling, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has announced several new initiatives his administration plans to pursue.

On Jan. 29 Malloy announced  intentions of shifting long-term care for seniors and adults with disabilities to more home-based care instead of more costly nursing home and institutional care, paid for in part by Medicaid. Malloy said the state plans to invest $13 million in the plan, in combination with $72.8 million in federal funding.

Additionally, on Jan. 30 Malloy announced  plans to establish a $20 million state bond pool for nonprofit community-based providers that provide health and human services through contracts with the state. The pool will help the organizations reduce overhead costs and help improve the delivery of services.

Earlier in January Malloy proposed a $200 million investment in the state’s bioscience sector to create jobs and grow existing businesses. And according to a Hartford Courant report, Malloy is expected to announce a $1.5 billion investment into the University of Connecticut’s science, technology, engineering and math programs. The investment would be used to hire faculty, improve facilities and  increase enrollment by a third, according to The Courant.