PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Katherine Demby, Chief of Staff from Office of State Senator Kristen Gonzales
1:46:36
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96 sec
Katherine Demby, representing State Senator Kristen Gonzales, testifies about the impact of hospital closures across New York City and the need to protect community hospitals and prioritize healthcare access for vulnerable New Yorkers. She emphasizes the importance of community engagement, regional healthcare planning, and support for safety net hospitals.
- Highlights the devastating effects of hospital closures on communities, particularly on elderly, disabled, poor, and working-class individuals
- Calls for meaningful community input and resources to protect healthcare access for everyone
- Expresses support for critical legislation like the Litch Act to ensure high-quality healthcare for all communities
Katherine Demby
1:46:36
Hi.
1:46:36
My name is Catherine Demby, and I'm representing state senator Kristen Gonzales who represents parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
1:46:45
Representing 3 boroughs makes it abundantly clear the hospital closures are never isolated incidents.
1:46:51
Over the past decade, several hospitals have closed across our city while critical services have migrated towards wealthier neighborhoods and working class New Yorkers have been stranded and healthcare does thirds.
1:47:01
Now more than ever, we must protect our community hospitals and prioritize health care access for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
1:47:09
As you've heard today, hospital closures can devastate communities even while they're still ongoing.
1:47:15
So much of this devastation comes from the lack of meaningful community engagement from those who'll be most impacted by hospital closures, elderly people aging in place, people with disabilities, poor and indigent people, workers, and families.
1:47:30
But we don't just need community input.
1:47:33
We must put that input to good use and give communities the resources they need to protect healthcare access for everyone.
1:47:40
That's why we also need robust regional healthcare planning, Medicaid parity, and more support for safety net hospitals to build a healthcare system that works for everyone.
1:47:51
Thank you to the city council, to council members, Narcis and Schulman for shining a light on the current crisis in our healthcare system.
1:48:01
The senator looks forward to working with her colleagues to support critical legislation like the Litch Act and to ensuring that all of our communities have the high quality health care they deserve.
1:48:12
Thank you.
