HARTFORD, CT. — Connecticut is one of a few states selected for a federal program to improve population health, advance health equity and curb the increase of health care costs.

It will be part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service's All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model.  

Deidre Gifford, the commissioner of the Office of Health Strategy, said Connecticut already has initiatives like setting a target level for cost growth, by aiming to not go up more than 3.2% a year. 

Gifford said the work is critical for the state as they're seeing people struggle with the cost of health care. 

As part of the AHEAD program the state will receive up to $12 million over the next five years.

“The funds will be used for a couple of purposes, to help us hire the staff that will need to do the work, that's always a critical element of these programs,” said Gifford. “It will help us engage experts in designing the new payment models and the new delivery models. We'll need to do some health information, some technology work on the Medicaid side so it will support those changes that need to be done with our eligibility systems, our payment systems, etc. And it will help us to engage the community."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service's Selected Connecticut based on a joint application submitted by the Office of Health Strategy and Department of Social Services, which oversees the Medicaid program in the state.