No. 27
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates November 15 of each year as “Patient Advocate Day.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
A Joint Resolution designating November 15 of each year as “Patient Advocate Day.”
Whereas, Access to health care is a basic human need and a shared societal responsibility; and
Whereas, One patient who cannot access medical treatment or survive the financial hardship of illness is one patient too many; and
Whereas, The experience of a serious diagnosis must open the patient’s door to relevant clinical information, empowerment within the medical care system, timely and sustained medical care and intervention, an ability to efficiently and effectively reach both well-informed, independent decisions, and the benefit of appropriate support which removes barriers to this care and empowerment; and
Whereas, The challenging complexity of ensuring health care to those in need must not deter or distract us from the urgency of finding and creating solutions to this persistent problem which requires immediate relief; and
Whereas, We are certain that only the continuous, comprehensive, cooperative, and collaborative action of New Jersey’s government, private industry, health care providers, and citizens can and must surmount this challenge; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. November 15 of each year is designated as "Patient Advocate Day" in New Jersey in order to affirm the commitment of this State to achieving the goal of progressive, fiscally sound, fair, and effective health care for every New Jersey citizen, and to stand in voice and action as an advocate for the patient now and in the future.
2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe “Patient Advocate Day” with appropriate activities and programs and to join with one another to bring the goal of progressive, fiscally sound, fair, and effective health care for every New Jersey citizen to fruition.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates November 15 of each year as “Patient Advocate Day” in order to affirm the commitment of this State to achieving the goal of progressive, fiscally sound, fair, and effective health care for every New Jersey citizen, and to stand in voice and action as an advocate for the patient now and in the future.
The joint resolution directs the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe this day with appropriate activities and programs and to join with one another to bring the goal of progressive, fiscally sound, fair, and effective health care for every New Jersey citizen to fruition.