PRINTER'S NO. 2502
No. 199 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY FAJT, COLE, SALOOM, VANCE, RAYMOND, OLASZ,
MARSICO, NAILOR, JOHNSON, RUDY, GEIST, FAIRCHILD,
M. N. WRIGHT, ITKIN, ROBINSON, BOYES, VEON, HERSHEY, KREBS,
KOSINSKI, NOYE, LANGTRY, STEIGHNER, GERLACH, HARPER, CAWLEY,
KRUSZEWSKI, FARMER, DALEY, ARNOLD, PESCI, VAN HORNE, BILLOW,
COY, FEE, STURLA, CORRIGAN, TIGUE, CARLSON, STUBAN, ANGSTADT,
BELFANTI, HAGARTY, DeLUCA, MUNDY, PETRONE, DEMPSEY,
TANGRETTI, STABACK, TELEK, BOWLEY, GIGLIOTTI, DERMODY,
JADLOWIEC, CAPPABIANCA, COLAIZZO, HALUSKA, E. Z. TAYLOR,
JOSEPHS, BATTISTO, LAUGHLIN, KAISER, MELIO, B. SMITH AND
McHUGH, OCTOBER 15, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 15, 1991
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of November in 1991 and 1992 as
2 "Pennsylvania Hospice Month."
3 WHEREAS, Hospice care has been demonstrated to be a
4 humanitarian way for terminally ill patients to approach the end
5 of their lives in comfort with appropriate, competent and
6 compassionate care in an environment of personal individuality
7 and dignity; and
8 WHEREAS, Hospice advocates care for the patient and family by
9 attending to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs and
10 specifically, the pain and grief they experience; and
11 WHEREAS, Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary
12 team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists,
13 psychological and spiritual counselors and community volunteers
1 trained in the hospice concept of care; and
2 WHEREAS, This unique program of support and care has proven
3 to be a worthy way for patients and their families to cope with
4 the stress and emotional trauma of a terminal illness; and
5 WHEREAS, With the establishment of approximately 1,700
6 hospice programs throughout the country, hospice is becoming a
7 full partner in the nation's health care system; and
8 WHEREAS, The enactment of a permanent Medicare hospice
9 benefit and an optional Medicaid hospice benefit makes it
10 possible for many more Americans to have the opportunity to
11 elect to receive hospice care; and
12 WHEREAS, Private insurance carriers and employers have
13 recognized the value of hospice care by the inclusion of hospice
14 benefits in health care coverage packages; and
15 WHEREAS, There remains a great need to increase public
16 awareness of the benefits of hospice care; therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
18 month of November in 1991 and 1992 as "Pennsylvania Hospice
19 Month"; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Governor issue a proclamation calling upon
21 all Commonwealth agencies, the health care community,
22 appropriate private organizations and the people of this
23 Commonwealth to observe each of those months with appropriate
24 forums, programs and activities designed to encourage
25 recognition of and support for hospice care as a humane response
26 to the needs of the terminally ill and as a viable component of
27 the health care system in this Commonwealth.
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