Conn. gets nearly $33M to improve health care

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The federal government has given Connecticut a $2.85 million grant to develop a plan that improves coordination of patient care and coverage, reform payment structures and lower costs.

Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman say the new plan will focus on people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program.

The new State Health Care Innovation Plan will also seek to increase the number of primary care physicians and other professionals.

It will include input from care providers, insurers, nonprofit service providers as well as other public and private groups.

Wyman says the funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will help efforts "to emphasize the value and quality of care patients receive — not just the volume of care."