HM 189

1	House Memorial
2	A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging
3	Congress to increase federal funding for home health
4	services for the elderly.
5
6	WHEREAS, federal financial assistance is provided for
7	nursing home care under the Medicaid program for elderly
8	patients, and
9	WHEREAS, studies document improved outcomes and better
10	quality of care and life for elderly patients who are furnished
11	health care in the patients' homes in contrast to nursing homes,
12	and
13	WHEREAS, there are only a few programs under which federal
14	financial assistance is provided for home health services for
15	elderly patients, and
16	WHEREAS, the federal financial assistance that is available
17	for home health services is insufficient to support 24-hour care
18	for elderly patients, and
19	WHEREAS, a home health agency may hire home health aides
20	but not require any structured education or training for such
21	aides, and
22	WHEREAS, an individual may take the examination to be
23	certified as a nurse assistant without any formal education and
24	training, and
25	WHEREAS, there is little or no supervision of caregivers
26	placed in the home of an elderly patient to care for the
27	patient, and
28	WHEREAS, home health services benefit not only people who
29	are parents and grandparents but also their children and
30	grandchildren, NOW, THEREFORE,
31
32	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
33
34	That the Congress of the United States is urged to:
35	(1)  Increase federal financial assistance for home health
36	services for elderly patients when it is determined that a
37	patient is in need of such services; and
38	(2)  Establish federal guideline requirements for students
39	and schools that train certified nurse assistants and home
40	health aides.
41	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
42	dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
43	President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
44	United States House of Representatives, and to each member of
45	the Florida delegation to the United States Congress.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.