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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mbacke Thiam, Housing and Health Committee Organizer at Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY)
1:43:37
ยท
129 sec
Mbacke Thiam from CIDNY advocated for improved healthcare access for patients with disabilities, emphasizing the need for language assistance, disability training for healthcare workers, and addressing physical accessibility issues. He also highlighted challenges with insurance coverage for people with disabilities.
- Called for ASL interpreting, CART services, and materials in accessible formats like braille and large print
- Stressed the importance of ADA compliance training for healthcare workers
- Pointed out barriers for patients with mobility issues, suggesting consultation with mobility-disabled advisors
- Highlighted insurance-related challenges, including high copays and lack of coverage for essential needs like wheelchair repairs
Mbacke Thiam
1:43:37
Good to see you too.
1:43:39
Thank you.
1:43:39
My name is Mbake Cham.
1:43:40
I'm the housing and health committee organizer at Center for Independence of the Disabled New York.
1:43:46
We advocate for people with disabilities in the Farborough of New York City.
1:43:52
And thank you for giving us the opportunity to to talk about people with disabilities and, on on evaluating the current state of health of health care access for patients with, disabilities.
1:44:11
Patients with disabilities have the right to to equitable access to health care.
1:44:17
This includes language ass assistance.
1:44:20
If needed, patients should ask for ASL interpreting or CART, communication access, real time translation services, papers in braille, large print, etcetera.
1:44:34
Also, health care workers should do receive disability training that will educate them on ADA compliance and the accessibility requirements.
1:44:43
Patients with mobility issues encounter several barriers to accessing quality healthcare, physical accessibility issues, lack for access accessible medical equipment, etcetera, Including a consultant with a mobility dis disability to advise the operators of health care facilities may help reduce its mobility barriers.
1:45:09
Insurance coverage can also present numerous challenges for patients with disabilities or chronic disease.
1:45:16
Some insurance coverage charge co pays that are high for disabled people.
1:45:21
Also, they may fail to cover emergency need for the patients with disabilities.
1:45:27
For example, one of our consumers who had issues with his wheelchair and his insurance did not cover wheelchair replacement or repair.
1:45:37
Again, we thank
Mercedes Narcisse
1:45:38
you Thank you, your time expired.
Linda Lee
1:45:40
Thank everyone
Mbacke Thiam
1:45:44
for giving us the opportunity to testify.