THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, BAKER, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DAY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HOUGHTON, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MATZIE, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, QUINN, READSHAW, ROHRER, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WATSON AND WHITE, MAY 26, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 26, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating June 10, 2009, as "Patient Advocate Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Access to health care is a basic human need and a

shared societal responsibility; and

WHEREAS, One patient who cannot access medical treatment or

survive the financial hardship of illness is one patient too

many; and

WHEREAS, A serious diagnosis must open the door to relevant

clinical information, empowerment within the medical care

system, timely and sustained medical care and intervention, an

ability to efficiently and effectively reach both well-informed

and independent decisions and the benefit of appropriate support

which removes barriers to this care and empowerment; and

WHEREAS, The challenging complexity of ensuring health care

to those in need must not deter or distract us from the urgency

of finding and creating solutions to this persistent problem

which requires immediate relief; and

WHEREAS, Only the continuous, comprehensive, cooperative and

collaborative action of Pennsylvania's government, private

industry, health care providers and citizens can surmount this

challenge; and

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth affirms its commitment to

progressive, fiscally sound, fair and effective health care for

each of its citizens and stands in voice and action as an

advocate for the patient now and in preparation for when the

challenge is greatest; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June

10, 2009, as "Patient Advocate Day" in Pennsylvania.