PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ron Thomas, District Leader of Assembly District 65 Part B, on Over-the-Counter Bill
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Ron Thomas, District Leader for Assembly District 65 Part B, testified in support of the over-the-counter bill, emphasizing its importance for aging and health-challenged constituents. He shared his personal experience with health issues and the benefits of the over-the-counter program in maintaining his health post-transplant.
- Highlighted the need for more accessible locations to use over-the-counter cards, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and local bodegas
- Discussed the rising costs of healthy food items and the importance of the program for those with preventable or controllable diseases
- Emphasized the "use it or lose it" nature of the benefit and its value for community health and lifestyle improvement
Ron Thomas
0:52:56
Good afternoon, everyone.
0:52:57
My name is Ron Thomas.
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I'm the district leader for the 60 Fifth Assembly District Part b, and I'm here to speak on behalf of the many of my aging members of my district in regards to having the over the counter bill passed.
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I had a kidney and pancreas transplant in 02/2018, because I had a failing kidney, due to my diabetes being out of control.
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That being said, since then I've been in the best health of my life.
0:53:24
Thank God for the over the counter program.
0:53:27
I tried the vegan diet, but I love a good fish so that didn't work out.
0:53:32
So many of my I'm here because a lot of my constituents have either issues with getting around in their wheelchair, so they would have been here today.
0:53:40
But they're older.
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We're all getting older.
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So on behalf of that, I have to travel all the way to Stop and Shop by Barclays Center to get groceries, which we can have Whole Foods at Trader Joe's or nearby, what they call them, the bodegas to accept the over the counter card.
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It's been imperative for me to change my diet, which I have.
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But as we know, eggs are like $9 now for a dozen.
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I've actually paid $9.74 for a box of strawberry banana Cheerios, which was, incredible.
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So we asked that the bill be passed as an initiative or this is a wellness program that a lot of insurance companies wanna see people that have preventable diseases or diseases that can be controlled.
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Being in that health care industry with my doctors and dealing with them, their greatest challenge is saying that dealing with people that have diseases that can be treated or that can be controlled, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
0:54:35
So I'm asking the board if you can please consider passing the use it or lose it bill.
0:54:40
We have one chance to use it.
0:54:42
You get the money per month.
0:54:44
Some agencies like, Humana or Health First, they get it every quarter, every three months.
0:54:50
But it's a huge benefit for the community and for people like myself that have preexisting conditions or that are trying to deal with eating having leading a healthier lifestyle.
0:54:59
Thank you.