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Senate Memorial

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A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging

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Congress to increase federal funding for home health

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services for the elderly.

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     WHEREAS, federal financial assistance is provided for

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nursing home care under the Medicaid program for elderly

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patients, and

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     WHEREAS, studies document improved outcomes and better

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quality of care and life for elderly patients who are furnished

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health care in the patients' homes in contrast to nursing homes,

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and

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     WHEREAS, there are only a few programs under which federal

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financial assistance is provided for home health services for

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elderly patients, and

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     WHEREAS, the federal financial assistance that is available

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for home health services is insufficient to support 24-hour care

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for elderly patients, and

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     WHEREAS, a home health agency may hire home health aides but

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not require any structured education or training for such aides,

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and

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     WHEREAS, an individual may take the examination to be

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certified as a nurse assistant without any formal education and

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training, and

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     WHEREAS, there is little or no supervision of caregivers

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placed in the home of an elderly patient to care for the patient,

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and

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     WHEREAS, home health services benefit not only people who

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are parents and grandparents but also their children and

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grandchildren, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     That the Congress of the United States is urged to:

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     (1)  Increase federal financial assistance for home health

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services for elderly patients when it is determined that a

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patient is in need of such services; and

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     (2)  Establish federal guideline requirements for students

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and schools that train certified nurse assistants and home health

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aides.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

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dispatched to the President of the United States, to the

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President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the

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United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the

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Florida delegation to the United States Congress.