Kimberleigh Smith
1:37:26
Hi, good afternoon Chair Lewis and committee members.
1:37:29
My name is Kimberly Smith.
1:37:30
I use she and her pronouns.
1:37:32
I am the Executive Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at Callan Lord Community Health Center.
1:37:37
Callan Lord provides quality healthcare to over 22,000 LGBTQ plus New Yorkers including more than 8,000 transgender, gender non conforming, gender non binary and intersex patients.
1:37:48
Many of our patients face systemic barriers to healthcare, housing and economic stability.
1:37:54
Today I wanna address the urgent need to protect trans healthcare access.
1:37:58
Our patients are experiencing fear and anxiety due to escalating attacks on their rights.
1:38:03
Recent executive orders that were referenced earlier, while not binding law, threatened gender affirming care and bodily autonomy.
1:38:11
The EO around protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation threatens changes to Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation which could bar providers from federal programs if they offer gender affirming care at any age, for any age.
1:38:28
Such actions would devastate healthcare institutions like Calend Lord serving marginalized community, worsening health disparities and increasing suicide and violence risks.
1:38:38
Despite these threats, Callan Lord remains steadfast in its commitment.
1:38:42
We remain open and have not changed any of our services.
1:38:45
To safeguard trans healthcare in New York, we urge the city council to increase the existing trans equity initiative to $10,000,000 prioritizing BIPOC and trans led organizations.
1:38:56
We also support the package of bills that was recently introduced and urge the city council to fund a new city council initiative to ensure ongoing access to gender affirming care at community health centers in New York City.
1:39:08
We urge you to support statewide efforts to establish a $50,000,000 contingency fund to replace potential Medicaid cuts for gender affirming care and we urge you to support legal protections for gender affirming care through state law to shield providers and patients.
1:39:25
Additionally, we want to support the proposal to consider renaming this committee, and I will submit lengthier testimony if you have any other questions.
