The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the high cost of hospital care necessitates the establishment of alternative means of caring for patients who need some professional health care, but who do not need to remain hospitalized. Home health care, therefore, is a necessary and desirable means of providing professional services to patients, consistent with the following objectives:

a. Rehabilitation of the patient in order to assist in the development of independent living capabilities;

b. Rehabilitation of the patient in order to attain reduction of physical or mental disability.

L.1977, c. 99, s. 1.