While Congress is on August recess, Senator Richard Blumenthal has been touring the state.  On Friday he made stops in Danbury and in Bethel.  He visited Regional Hospice and Home Care in Danbury to meet with center leaders about their recent inclusion in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services's Medicare Innovation Model research program.

Regional Hospice was the only hospice/palliative care program in Connecticut to be awarded the program, Medicare Choices.  It will allow Medicare recipients to receive concurrent end-of-life and curative care and enable critical research on the impact of simultaneous care on quality of life.  Under the current system, patients can only receive Medicare benefits for separate palliative or curative care services.

5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty visited the Danbury Center on July 31st to announce the initiative.

Blumenthal on Friday also visited Ability Beyond in Bethel. 

He was there to highlight what he says is a need for increased investment in developmental disability councils and programs.  The organization is dedicated to supporting mentally and physically disabled individuals in New York and Connecticut.  Their programs include job training and placement, supported living, and recreational and education opportunities.

Blumenthal says Republicans have proposed a $7 million funding cut for federal Developmental Disability programs for the 2016 fiscal year.  Blumenthal co-wrote a letter in March urging his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support increased funding for Developmental Disability Councils.  He says these organizations provide increased access to housing, transportation, employment and other services to individuals with developmental disabilities.