BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY ...

So what was so devastating is I'm having all these tests and they have all these fancy machines with
all these amazing scans, but you don't think about how much they cost and how much they
are -- you know, who's paying for them. You just pray that they are saving your life. And then
one day, I go for a test to find out they can't do the test, because -- and this is after I've already
had cancer -- they can't do the test because I didn't have any insurance. I didn't know I didn't have
any insurance.
I was fortunate enough that while I was in the middle of my treatment, the oncology nurse told me,
"Call the Cancer Services." So I immediately called them, they had me in immediately because I
needed to continue with everything I was doing. You know, the thought of not continuing treatment
is almost, to me, looking death in the face. If I wasn't going to get my treatment, I wouldn't be
able to live. I had an ovarian kind of cancer. I had, you know, almost two and a half years of
treatment.
So I was even trying to find out -- find people -- I couldn't find anything. So when I got the Cancer
Services, I went there immediately. And after they helped me, I went home and tried to find some
of my own doctors. I couldn't find anybody. And the patient navigator did all of that. Without
her, it's very hard; you can't just look up on the internet like you can everything else and find, "Oh,
that doctor will do this, or that doctor will that." That's not on the internet anymore. So I couldn't
find a doctor.
When I went back, the patient navigator helped me find immediately that now I'm overdue for
treatments, I'm overdue for mammographies, I'm overdue for a PET scan, I'm overdue for
everything more than, like, a year. She helped me with everything. And without Liz, I don't
know -- I don't know if I would be up here being able to tell you guys my story today. So to take
away something that, what all the others have said, to take this away from us is just something that
is going to take away a lot of lives. So the patient answered all the questions, they made phone
calls, they helped find doctors. Without the patient navigator, I just -- you know, like I said, I
wouldn't probably be here today. She's a vital part this system. And I'm very thankful every day
for that patient navigator.
CHAIRMAN D'AMARO:
Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to address the committee? That's all the cards
I've been handed -- here's one more. Mr. Quinn, welcome, please go ahead.
MR. QUINN:
Good afternoon. My name is Peter Quinn. I am the father -- my wife and I are the parents of six
daughters, so it's incumbent that I speak on behalf of women. And I appreciate their tearful
comments. I want to do a comparison. Two years ago, I had quadruple heart surgery. When I
finally got all the bills, fortunately, I have Medicare and Empire, the total bills for the hospital came
to $93,000. The total bills for the surgeon came to $23,000. So I can't -- I will never appreciate
or understand how without health insurance, without coverage, these women can be serviced. But I
heard the number $57,000 to restore the ability to have women get -- get help. And so I would
urge the County, even despite what you heard about the shortfall this morning, that you restore
those funds, even increase them. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN D'AMARO:
Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to address the committee. Just a brief comment.
Ladies, I thank you very much. I know it takes a lot of courage to testify, and we do appreciate
that, especially your willingness to share very personal experiences. I assure you it has an impact.
It is important that we hear testimony such as yours. It kind of takes us outside the bubble and
makes it real, and that's what we need to do. I appreciate you taking the time. I think we all
recognize the value of the Patient Navigator Program, and your testimony certainly drives home that
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