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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Gillian Dean, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York
5:09:58
ยท
176 sec
Dr. Gillian Dean, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), testified about the critical need for investment in reproductive healthcare services. She highlighted the challenges faced by PPGNY in providing essential care to over 70,000 New Yorkers amid rising costs, workforce shortages, and potential funding threats.
- PPGNY provides a wide range of services including birth control, wellness exams, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, gender-affirming care, and abortion care.
- Dr. Dean requested $1,250,000 from the reproductive and sexual health initiative and an equal amount from the speaker's list to continue providing healthcare services and educational programs.
- She emphasized the importance of maintaining New York City's status as a beacon of abortion access in the face of national challenges to reproductive rights.
Dr. Gillian Dean
5:09:58
Good afternoon.
5:09:59
My name is Doctor.
5:10:00
Jillian Dean.
5:10:01
I'm the chief medical officer and a physician at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
5:10:06
I want to thank you for the chance to discuss PPGNY's programs and services, and the need for critical investments.
5:10:14
For over a hundred years, PPGNY has been a trusted provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare and education programs for communities throughout New York City.
5:10:24
Today, I am here to urge the council to support critical investments in PPGNY to ensure that we can continue to provide the care that over 70,000 New Yorkers depend on.
5:10:37
As a healthcare provider at PPGNY, I see and feel the effects of the strain on reproductive care in our city daily.
5:10:45
Every day we provide reproductive healthcare services that patients and communities rely on.
5:10:52
Including critical preventive care services like birth control services, wellness exams, tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, breast and cervical cancer screening, gender affirming care, and critically abortion care.
5:11:09
Unfortunately, long standing underinvestment in reproductive healthcare combined with soaring costs, workforce shortages, the havoc of the COVID pandemic, and care restrictions imposed in the wake of the Dobbs decision are limiting access to care even here in New York City.
5:11:25
Making matters worse, we know that the incoming administration will bring new attacks on our funding and service delivery such as threats to Title 10 that you mentioned earlier.
5:11:36
Amidst this very challenging backdrop and despite the rising costs of providing sexual and reproductive healthcare, funding, including New York State Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement rates, has remained largely stagnant for a decade.
5:11:51
The ever widening gap between reimbursement and expenses threatens the sustainability of our services and puts abortion access at risk.
5:12:00
What does this all mean?
5:12:01
The care New Yorkers deserve and have come to rely on from PPGNY over many years is in real danger.
5:12:09
PPGNY has been forced to make several very difficult financial decisions and we need your help.
5:12:15
I strongly urge you to support our ask for 1,250,000 from the reproductive and sexual health initiative, as well as the same number from the speakers list, on top of the current funding, to allow us to provide healthcare services and educational programs throughout New York City.
5:12:34
Support from the council will help PPGNY continue providing healthcare, including gender affirming care to trans and non binary patients, and access to healthcare for low income New Yorkers.
Lynn Schulman
5:12:45
We need you to summarize.
Dr. Gillian Dean
5:12:48
It will allow New York City to remain the beacon of abortion access that we hope to always be.
Lynn Schulman
5:12:54
Thank you doctor.