ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 117

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

 

 

By Assemblywoman FRISCIA, Assemblymen Wisniewski, Green, Barnes, Greenwald, Assemblywomen Quigley, Gill, Buono, Weinberg and Cruz-Perez

 

 

An Assembly Resolution expressing support for the work of home health aides and urging the Governor and the Commissioner of Human Services to refrain from cutting the hourly rates for personal care assistant services through the State Medicaid program.

 

Whereas, Through personal care assistant services in the State Medicaid program, home health aides provide basic personal care to more than 8,900 frail, elderly and disabled citizens each year; and

Whereas, Personal care recipients often need assistance with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, hygiene, exercise and walking in order to remain in the familiar surrounding of their homes and avoid going to nursing homes which they often find bleak; and

Whereas, Home care alternatives for long term care are more cost effective than nursing home care resulting in savings of millions of dollars to the State each year; and

Whereas, Personal care assistant services through the State Medicaid program provide employment to an estimated 18,000-20,000 certified home health aides, many of whom would be unemployed and on welfare without such employment; and

Whereas, The Governor's original proposed budget for FY 1997 reduced funding for personal care assistant services through the State Medicaid program by proposing a reduction in the reimbursement rates provided to personal care providers; the Legislature subsequently restored part of this proposed cut and provided language maintaining that the hourly rates provided for personal care assistant services shall not be changed in FY 1997; however, the final appropriations act deleted such language, thus allowing for a rate change; and

Whereas, A cut in the hourly rates provided for personal care assistant services would impair the important work of home health aides, who must be trained and certified, and the provider agencies, who must provide supervisory services and meet new costs associated with increasing regulatory requirements, and could


ultimately result in the elimination of the entire program; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1.    This House expresses its support and recognition of the important work accomplished by home health aides.

 

    2.    The Governor and the Commissioner of Human Services are respectfully urged to refrain from cutting the hourly rates for personal care assistant services through the State Medicaid program.

 

    3.    A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be forwarded to the Governor and the Commissioner of Human Services.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This resolution expresses the support and recognition of the General Assembly for the important work accomplished by home health aides and urges the Governor and the Commissioner of Human Services to refrain from cutting the hourly rates for personal care assistant services through the State Medicaid program.

 

 

                             

 

Expresses support and recognition for work of home health aides and urges Governor and Commissioner of Human Services to refrain from cutting hourly rates for personal care assistant services through State Medicaid program.