New Jersey § 26:2h-5o

§ 26:2h-5o.

As used in this act: “ Appropriate ” means consistent with applicable legal, health, and professional standards, the

patient's clinical and other circumstances, and the patient's reasonably known wishes

and beliefs. “ Hospice care ” means a coordinated program of home, outpatient, and inpatient care and services

that is operated by a public agency or private organization, or subdivision of either

of these entities, and that provides care and services to hospice patients and to

hospice patients' families, through a medically directed interdisciplinary team, under

interdisciplinary plans of care in order to meet the physical, psychological, social,

spiritual, and other special needs that are experienced during the final stages of

illness, dying, and bereavement. A hospice care program includes: nursing care by or under the supervision of a

registered professional nurse; physical, occupational, or speech or language therapy;

medical social services by a certified or licensed social worker under the direction

of a physician; services of a certified home health aide; medical supplies, including

drugs and biologicals, and the use of medical appliances related to terminal diagnosis;

physician's services; short-term inpatient care, including both palliative and respite

care and procedures; spiritual and other counseling for hospice patients and hospice

patients' families; services of volunteers under the direction of the provider of

the hospice care program; and bereavement services for hospice patients' families. “ Medical care ” means services provided, requested, or supervised by a physician, physician assistant,

or advanced practice nurse. “ Palliative care ” means patient-centered and family-centered medical care that optimizes quality of

life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering caused by serious illness. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical,

emotional, social, and spiritual needs and facilitating patient autonomy, access to

information, and choice. Palliative care includes, but is not limited to: comprehensive pain and symptom

management and discussion of treatment options appropriate to the patient, including

hospice care, when appropriate. “ Serious illness ” means any medical illness or physical injury or condition that substantially impacts

quality of life for more than a short period of time. Serious illness includes, but is not limited to: cancer; heart, renal, or liver

failure; lung disease; and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.