§ 4000. Legislative declaration. The legislature finds and declares that hospice is a socially and financially beneficial alternative to conventional curative care for those afflicted by terminal illness. It further finds that hospice is a unique, interdisciplinary program of palliative and supportive care to meet the stresses associated with illness, death and bereavement through the innovation and reorganization of home and traditional inpatient health services.

In recognition of the value of hospice and consistent with state policy to encourage the expansion of health care service options available to New York state residents, it is the intention of the legislature that hospice be available to all who seek such care and that it become a permanent component of the state's health care system.