The agenda for the State Bond Commission meeting next week includes $1 million for renovations at New London's , Governor Dannel Malloy's office has announced.
“Residents in New London and the surrounding towns have relied on the critical services that the Community Health Center provides,” Governor Malloy said in a press release. “This funding will help the center improve the delivery of care to its patients, whether it be primary, dental or behavioral health services.”
The funds would be used to upgrade exam rooms and improve patient flow via renovations to about 5,000 square feet of the facility. It would also create patient service areas for laboratory work, eligibility screening, registration and reception, and educational services. The improvements would follow the construction in 2010 of a 3,000 square foot addition dedicated to clinical space.
New London's representatives in the state government expressed their support of the measure in the press release.
“For nearly 20 years now the New London Community Health Center has helped bridge the healthcare gap for nearby residents who are uninsured or underinsured, delivering top-notch professional services with minimal overhead,” Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford) said in the statement. “All of us in southeastern Connecticut welcome this bond allocation as an indication of Governor Malloy’s commitment to readily accessible medical services throughout Connecticut.”
“The myriad of health services the Community Health Center of New London offers is not often duplicated in other health care facilities,” State Representative Edward E. Moukawsher (D-Groton) stated. “I am very grateful to Governor Malloy for confirming, through the approval of these funds, the indispensability of this center.”
“Even as we struggle to balance the state budget, I am pleased to see the governor included this project in his bond agenda,” State Representative Ernest Hewett (D-New London) said. “Given the current difficult economic times, this is the only access that many have to receive vital services right when they need them. Despite the challenges ahead, we cannot afford to not keep funding in place for programs like this.”
The Community Health Center is a non-profit organization providing health care, dental services, and behavioral health services to residents who do not have insurance or are underinsured. It also has services for special populations such as HIV/AIDs patients. The New London site is one of 12 centers in Connecticut.
The Bond Commission is scheduled to vote on the item at its April 29 meeting at 10:30 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
