SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 29

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH PENNACCHIO

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Gopal

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges President and Congress to enact “Huntington’s Disease Parity Act.”

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee with technical review.

  


A Concurrent Resolution respectfully urging the President and the Congress of the United States to enact the “Huntington’s Disease Parity Act.”

 

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, The disease was first identified in 1872 by Dr. George Huntington, and was originally known as Huntington’s Chorea, the term for the involuntary muscle movements and twitches of the face, trunk, or extremities that are characteristic of the disease; and

Whereas, Symptoms of the disease include abnormal body postures, changes in behavior, emotion, judgment, and cognition, slurred speech, impaired coordination, and difficulty eating and swallowing; and

Whereas, More than 200,000 Americans are at-risk of inheriting Huntington’s disease, and more than 30,000 currently suffer from the disease, which affects all racial and ethnic groups; and

Whereas, Although prescription medications can help alleviate chorea and some of the psychiatric manifestations of the disease, including hallucinations, depression, and anxiety, the side effects of these drugs include fatigue, sedation, restlessness, and decreased concentration; and

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, There is no treatment that can stop or reverse the progression of Huntington’s disease, and patients generally endure its symptoms for 15 to 20 years before succumbing to its complications; and

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, The “Huntington’s Disease Parity Act” currently pending in both houses of Congress would waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington’s disease; and

Whereas, In order that those disabled by this incapacitating, genetic disorder can timely access the much needed healthcare benefits that Medicare provides; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

     1.    The Legislature of this State respectfully 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.

 

     2.    Copies of this Resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.