N.Y. Public Health Law § 4000: Legislative declaration

§ 4000. Legislative declaration. The legislature finds and declares

that hospice is a socially and financially beneficial alternative to

conventional curative care for those afflicted by terminal illness. It

further finds that hospice is a unique, interdisciplinary program of

palliative and supportive care to meet the stresses associated with

illness, death and bereavement through the innovation and reorganization

of home and traditional inpatient health services.

In recognition of the value of hospice and consistent with state

policy to encourage the expansion of health care service options

available to New York state residents, it is the intention of the

legislature that hospice be available to all who seek such care and that

it become a permanent component of the state's health care system.