§ 4012-b. Hospice palliative care. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent
provision of this article to the contrary, a hospice may also offer a
program of palliative care for patients with advanced life-limiting
conditions and illnesses and their families. Such a program may be
provided by a hospice issued a certificate of approval pursuant to
section four thousand four of this article, acting alone or under
contract with a certified home health agency, long term home health care
program, licensed home care services agency or AIDS home care program,
as such terms are defined in section thirty-six hundred two of this
chapter. Nothing in this section shall preclude the provision of
palliative care by any other health care provider otherwise authorized
to provide such services.

2. For the purposes of this section "Palliative care" means the
active, interdisciplinary care of patients with advanced, life-limiting
illness, focusing on relief of distressing physical and psychosocial
symptoms and meeting spiritual needs. Its goal is achievement of the
best quality of life for patients and families.