SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 29

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2018

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 29.

      This Concurrent Resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to enact the “Huntington’s Disease Parity Act,” currently pending as H.R. 2589 in the House of Representatives and  S. 1197 in the Senate.

      Huntington’s disease is an incurable, inherited disorder that causes the breakdown of neurons in the brain, and results in the progressive deterioration of the individual’s physical and mental abilities and psychological health.  Symptoms of the disease include abnormal body postures, changes in behavior, emotion, judgment, and cognition, slurred speech, impaired coordination, and difficulty eating and swallowing.  Because of the progressive, degenerative nature of Huntington’s disease, individuals with the disease become increasingly disabled over time, lose the ability to live independently, and require increasing levels of care and support. Individuals who are disabled by Huntington’s disease and are determined to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits must then wait two years, pursuant to current rules, before they are eligible to receive Medicare benefits.

      The “Huntington’s Disease Parity Act” waives the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington’s disease.

      This concurrent resolution was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.