PUBLIC LAW 101-78—AUG. 11, 1989 103 STAT. 559 Public Law 101-78 r^*^ 101st Congress Joint Resolution To designate the month of November 1989 and 1990 as "National Hospice Month". Whereas hospice care has been demonstrated to be a humanitarian way for terminally ill patients to approach the end of their lives in comfort with appropriate, competent, and compassionate care in an environment of personal individuality and dignity; Whereas hospice advocates care for the patient and family by attending to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and specifically, the pain and grief they experience; Whereas hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychological and spiritual counselors, and community volunteers trained in the hospice concept of care; Whereas hospice is becoming a full partner in the Nation's health care system; Whereas the enactment of a permanent medicare hospice benefit and an optional medicaid hospice benefit makes it possible for many more Americans to have the opportunity to elect to receive hospice care; Whereas private insurance carriers and employers have recognized the value of hospice care by the inclusion of hospice benefits in health care coverage packages; and Whereeis there remains a great need to increase public awareness of the benefits of hospice care: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the month of Novem- ber in 1989 and 1990 is designated as "National Hospice Month". The President is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon all government agencies, the health care community, appropriate pri- vate organizations, and people of the United States to observe each of those months with appropriate forums, programs and activities designed to encourage national recognition of and support for hos- pice care as a humane response to the needs of the terminally ill and as a viable component of the health care system in this country. Approved August 11, 1989. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 78: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 135 (1989): June 9, considered and passed Senate. Aug. 4, considered and passed House. Aug. 11, 1989 [S.J. Res. 78]
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