ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 83

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MAY 2, 1996

 

 

By Assemblywoman BUONO and Assemblyman BARNES

 

 

AN Assembly Resolution memorializing the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to support the development of assisted living residences.

 

Whereas, Assisted living residences offer significant potential as a community-based long-term care alternative to nursing home care for senior and disabled persons, which would reduce the rate of increase in total health care system costs in the context of an aging population and enable these persons to enjoy a less restrictive and more homelike environment than is generally available in institutional settings; and

Whereas, Assisted living residences are generally newly constructed buildings designed to offer their residents benefits which are currently unavailable in any other type of health care facility, such as a personally furnished, apartment-style living environment and a uniquely individualized approach to care, and which are intended to promote each resident's sense of autonomy, privacy and self-esteem; and

Whereas, In New Jersey, the Department of Health has taken steps to encourage the development of assisted living residences, as well as comprehensive personal care homes, in order to restructure the State's long-term care system to give consumers a greater choice of cost-effective home and community-based alternatives to nursing home care; and

Whereas, It is important for the states to encourage the federal government to support efforts to provide for a more humane and cost-effective long-term care system and provide the states with maximum flexibility to make new long-term care options available to consumers; and

Whereas, This House believes that the national administration endorses this strategy for expanding the availability of community-based long-term care options nationwide; now, therefore,

 

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

 

    1. This House memorializes the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue such waivers of federal statutes or regulations as permitted and necessary to facilitate the development of assisted living residences as a viable and accessible community-based long-term care alternative to nursing home care for senior and disabled persons, through support for their construction, operation and inclusion as a covered service in the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

 

    2. 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 United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and to each member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This resolution memorializes the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue such waivers of federal statutes or regulations as permitted and necessary to facilitate the development of assisted living residences.

 

 

 

Memorializes U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to support the development of assisted living residences.