N.Y. Public Health Law § 3600: Declaration of legislative findings and intent

§ 3600. Declaration of legislative findings and intent. The

legislature hereby finds and declares that the provision of high quality

home care services to residents of New York state is a priority concern.

Expanding these services to make them available throughout the state as

a viable part of the health care system and as an alternative to

institutional care should be a primary focus of the state's actions.

Home health care has only recently been recognized legislatively as an

integral part of the health care delivery system and has proven to have

an important and valuable role in patient care. The certified home

health agencies render a coordinated array of services to patients in

their homes, thereby avoiding prolonged institutionalization,

concomitant high costs and associated adverse social and medical

implications.

The legislature intends that there be a public commitment to the

appropriate provision and expansion of services rendered to the

residents of the state by certified home health agencies, to the

maintenance of a consistently high level of services by all home care

services agencies, to the central collection and public accessibility of

information concerning all organized home care services, and to the

adequate regulation and coordination of existing home care services.