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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Edmond Loi, Representative of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
8:23:47
ยท
131 sec
Edmond Loi, representing the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, testified to request continued support for several health initiatives serving vulnerable New Yorkers. He highlighted the importance of programs such as CHECK Hep B, Access Health and Immigrant Health Initiatives, and the Cancer Services Initiative in addressing health disparities in the Asian American community.
- The health center served approximately 59,000 patients in 2023, with 79% being limited English proficient and 90% having low household incomes.
- The CHECK Hep B program has a 97% success rate in completing hepatitis B medical evaluations for participants.
- Continued funding would support cancer screening access through patient navigation for several hundred members of the Chinese American community.
Edmond Loi
8:23:47
Good evening chair Shalman and chair Lee, members of the district committee.
8:23:50
My name is Edmund Loy and I'm testifying on behalf of the Charles v Wong Community Health Center.
8:23:55
We are a federally qualified health center.
8:23:56
We're located in Manhattan and Queens.
8:23:58
In 2023, we served approximately 59,000 patients, seventy nine percent of whom were limited English proficient and 90% of whom had household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline level.
8:24:11
Our health center remained open throughout the COVID-nineteen pandemic and we've worked hard to maintain many of our health and outreach programs.
8:24:18
This was only possible in part because of support from city council discretionary funding.
8:24:21
I'm testifying today to ask for continued support of several initiatives so that we can continue to serve vulnerable New Yorkers.
8:24:29
The CHECK Hep B program under the viral hepatitis initiative provides culturally and linguistically competent health education, patient navigation and care management services for New York City residents with chronic hepatitis B.
8:24:41
In New York City alone, an estimated two hundred and fifty four thousand nine hundred and ninety two people were living with the disease in 2023.
8:24:48
At our health center, one in eight adult patients have chronic hepatitis B.
8:24:51
If left unmonitored and untreated, hepatitis B can severely damage the liver, potentially causing liver failure or liver cancer.
8:24:58
The Check Hep B program has a strong record of success with around ninety seven percent of participants completing a hepatitis B medical evaluation through this program.
8:25:07
Additionally, through the Access Health and Immigrant Health Initiatives, we provide education to the Asian American community about health insurance coverage, aiming to increase vulnerable New Yorkers access to healthcare services.
8:25:19
Lastly, through the Cancer Services Initiative, we increased awareness of risk factors, symptoms and treatment options for breast and colorectal cancers.
8:25:27
The city council's continued support will ensure cancer screening access through patient navigation for several hundred members of the Chinese American community, many of whom are uninsured and face numerous barriers to healthcare.
8:25:42
I just want to close off by saying that with continued funding and resources, our initiatives can continue to address the health disparities and inequities experienced by the pandemic.
UNKNOWN
8:25:50
Your time's expired, thank you.
Lynn Schulman
8:25:51
Just give a summary of your end, go ahead.
Edmond Loi
8:25:54
I'm just about done, just thank you for your time and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Lynn Schulman
8:25:58
Sure.