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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jane Ni, Assistant Director of Policy at Community Healthcare Association in New York State
8:26:09
ยท
139 sec
Jane Ni from the Community Healthcare Association in New York State testified about the critical role of community health centers in New York City's healthcare system. She emphasized the need for increased investment in primary care and the financial challenges faced by health centers due to outdated reimbursement rates.
- Community health centers serve 1.3 million patients at 490 sites across New York City
- Health center costs are on average 44% higher than the maximum allowable Medicaid reimbursement rate
- Ni requested the council to prioritize funding and support for health centers as the primary care safety net
Jane Ni
8:26:09
Hello.
8:26:10
Good evening, everyone.
8:26:11
My name is Jane Nieh.
8:26:13
I'm the assistant director of policy at the Community Healthcare Association in New York State.
8:26:17
We are New York's primary care association representing more than 80 federally qualified health centers, including Charles V.
8:26:24
Wong and Callan Lord, at Housing Works, also known as Community Health Centers serving one in eight New Yorkers across the state.
8:26:31
On behalf of Duquenes and New York City's health centers, I thank the New York City Council for convening this vital preliminary budget hearing on health.
8:26:39
So in New York City, community health centers serve more than 1,300,000 patients at four ninety sites across the city.
8:26:46
We are nonprofit community driven clinics providing essential primary preventive care regardless of someone's insurance status or ability to pay making community health centers a cornerstone of New York City's health care safety net.
8:26:58
And as the primary care safety net for New York City, health centers are essential to improving health outcomes for communities throughout New York City.
8:27:06
And so increasing investment in health centers and primary care will help New York City meet its potential in preventing disease, catching health issues early, etcetera.
8:27:16
It also means prevent prioritizing prevention efforts so that we can reduce the number of emergency room visits on an already overburdened system.
8:27:24
And an increased investment, like everyone else has mentioned, cannot come at a more significant time.
8:27:29
In the past two decades, health centers have expanded their services, to include supports like addressing social needs.
8:27:35
But despite this expanded role, rising costs from operation to workforce are far outpacing health center reimbursement rates that were set more than twenty years ago.
8:27:46
An analysis by Urban Institute showed that health center costs are on average 44% higher than the maximum allowable Medicaid reimbursement rate.
8:27:56
And this ever growing challenge has already led to site closures and layoffs at health centers across the city and more difficulties may perhaps lay ahead for our health centers.
8:28:06
And so we request the council to protect and support our health centers' role as a primary care safety net by prioritizing funding and workforce
UNKNOWN
8:28:13
Your time's expired.
8:28:15
Thank you.
Lynn Schulman
8:28:15
Just you you can summarize the the end.
Jane Ni
8:28:18
Go ahead.
8:28:18
Thank you.
8:28:19
That lift up health centers, including supportive, legislative parties at the state level.
8:28:23
So our patients count on us.
8:28:25
Can we count on you?
8:28:27
Thank you.
Lynn Schulman
8:28:28
Thank you very much.