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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Juan Pinzon, Director of Government Relations at Community Service Society
8:42:51
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141 sec
Juan Pinzon testifies in support of funding for the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP) and Access Health NYC in the FY 2026 budget. He highlights the increasing healthcare affordability issues faced by New Yorkers and the critical role of MCCAP in helping vulnerable populations navigate the healthcare system.
- Pinzon cites a recent survey showing 60% of New Yorkers experienced healthcare affordability burdens in the past year.
- MCCAP has assisted over 17,000 clients since February 2020, saving them nearly $1 million in healthcare-related costs.
- He urges the city council to increase funding for MCCAP to $2.3 million and Access Health NYC's allocation to $4.5 million.
Juan Pinzon
8:42:51
Good evening, chairs, Schulman and Lee.
8:42:53
I'm Juan Pinzon.
8:42:54
I'm the director of government relations at the Community Service Society.
8:42:57
And today, I'm testifying in support of funding for the managed care consumer assistance program and access health NYC in the FY twenty six budget.
8:43:06
In my written testimony, I also talk about, the restoration of Article six, the enactment of the Fair Pricing Act.
8:43:14
And I wanna thank you, council member Schonen, for your advocacy on these two issues.
8:43:20
I know that you mentioned that you're planning to introduce a resolution in support of the Fair Pricing Act, which is great.
8:43:26
New Yorkers are angry and frustrated with our health care system, as you know.
8:43:31
In addition to navigating a dysfunctional health care system, they're also seeing how their premiums and out of pocket expenses keep rising, which forces many to postpone preventive care.
8:43:42
And we recently conducted a statewide health care affordability survey that found that sixty percent of New Yorkers experience at least one health care affordability burden in the past year.
8:43:53
In 2019, we did a similar survey, that number was 59, so it's getting worse.
8:43:58
And the survey also found that eighty percent of responders worry about affording health care in the future.
8:44:03
So this is why we need programs like Macap to help our most most vulnerable populations across the city navigate navigate our health care system, including resolving claim denials and medical billing issues.
8:44:15
Since 02/2020, MacCap has assisted over 20,000 clients I'm sorry, 17,000 clients to secure coverage and medically necessary necessary care, saving them nearly $1,000,000 in health care related costs.
8:44:28
Our current network of 12 CBOs is not enough to cover the entire city.
8:44:33
We're leaving many residents, who are not able to access services on the ground, particularly in Brooklyn and The Bronx.
8:44:40
So increasing funding for Macabre Macabre is critical to ensure that New Yorkers have a place to turn when dealing with a claim denial, with a medical bill, or any other issue accessing coercion care.
UNKNOWN
8:44:52
Time's expired.
8:44:53
Thank you.
Lynn Schulman
8:44:53
Just just summarize, Juan.
Juan Pinzon
8:44:56
Thank you.
8:44:56
And today's political reality realities also make the need for Maccab all the more pressing as as you know.
8:45:03
So we urge the city council to consider increasing funding for Maccab to 2,300,000.0 and also increase AXA Health NYC's allocation to 4,500,000.0.
8:45:11
Thank you so much.
Lynn Schulman
8:45:12
Thank you very much.