N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 4000

§ 4000. Legislative declaration. The legislature finds and declares\nthat hospice is a socially and financially beneficial alternative to\nconventional curative care for those afflicted by terminal illness. It\nfurther finds that hospice is a unique, interdisciplinary program of\npalliative and supportive care to meet the stresses associated with\nillness, death and bereavement through the innovation and reorganization\nof home and traditional inpatient health services.\n In recognition of the value of hospice and consistent with state\npolicy to encourage the expansion of health care service options\navailable to New York state residents, it is the intention of the\nlegislature that hospice be available to all who seek such care and that\nit become a permanent component of the state's health care system.\n