Bill Text: NY J00192 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 4-8, 2021, as Malnutrition Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-01-26 - ADOPTED [J00192 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00192-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 192

BY: Senator BIAGGI

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        October 4-8, 2021, as Malnutrition Awareness Week in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set  aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 4-8, 2021, as
Malnutrition Awareness Week in the State of  New  York,  in  conjunction
with the observance of National Malnutrition Awareness Week; and

  WHEREAS,  Remaining true to its mission, Malnutrition Awareness Week
raises awareness of malnutrition and its negative effects on individuals
and health care costs; and

  WHEREAS, Experts agree that nutrition status is a direct measure  of
patient  health  and that good nutrition can keep people healthy and out
of healthcare institutions, thus reducing healthcare costs which can  be
up  to  $42  billion annually for hospital stays involving malnutrition;
and

  WHEREAS, Inadequate or unbalanced nutrition, known as  malnutrition,
is   particularly   prevalent   in   vulnerable   populations,  such  as
hospitalized patients, older adults,  and  minority  populations;  these
populations  statistically  shoulder  the highest incidences of the most
severe chronic illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease,  cancer,  and
cardiovascular disease that are also impacted by nutrition; and

  WHEREAS,  Malnutrition  is exacerbated by the global COVID-19 health
pandemic which has intensified disparities and social isolation;  it  is
further  compounded by food insecurity and federal legislation which has
allocated supplemental funding for federal community nutrition programs;
and

  WHEREAS, Illness, injury, and malnutrition can result in the loss of
lean body mass, leading to complications that impact good patient health
outcomes, including recovery from surgery, illness, or disease; and

  WHEREAS,  Enhanced  Recovery  After  Surgery   (ERAS)   care   plans
implemented  by a team of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals can
improve patient nutrition to support a strong recovery and  help  reduce
risk of complications from elective surgeries; and

  WHEREAS, Despite the recognized link between good nutrition and good
health,   nutrition   screening   and   intervention   have   not   been
systematically incorporated across the continuum of care; and

  WHEREAS,  Clinical  quality  measures  can  help  improve  nutrition
screening  and  intervention,  and  the  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services   (CMS)   for   the   first   time   has   approved    multiple

malnutrition-specific  clinical  quality  measures for two CMS qualified
clinical data registries; and

  WHEREAS, A collaborative effort among key stakeholders in the public
and  private  sectors continues to be required to increase awareness of,
reduce, and prevent malnutrition and the National  Blueprint:  Achieving
Quality  Malnutrition  Care  for  Older  Adults, 2020 Update serves as a
template for such collaboration; and

  WHEREAS, The American Society for Parenteral and  Enteral  Nutrition
(ASPEN),  was  the  first to establish a National Malnutrition Awareness
Week in 2012; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  recognizes  the   importance   of
Malnutrition  Awareness  Week in promoting public and media attention to
the seriousness of malnutrition, and for working  to  improve  education
about  its  causes  and its treatments, as well as how to help those who
are struggling with this debilitating condition; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 4-8, 2021, as
Malnutrition Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.