Issues
BANKRUPTCY
Some injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors, who have experienced personal bankruptcy are now finally receiving compensation for the 9/11 injuries under the federal legislation. Questions have been directed to us at 911 Health Watch Inc. about the relationship between payments from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund 9/11 Fund payments and bankruptcy. In order to assist generally as much as we can, 9/11 Health Watch has prepared a memorandum that addresses these matters. Read more
CANCER
The James Zadroga, 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 and its Reauthorization in 2015 as passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, included a list of specific conditions that included respiratory, gastrointestinal, and mental health conditions that were to be covered by the newly created World Trade Center Health Program. The list of WTC-related conditions that the program would cover was identical to the list of conditions that had been used in the preexisting WTC Responder Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (MM&TP). It was developed by the WTC Centers of Excellence and NIOSH at the start of the federally funded treatment in late 2006. The list was based on the clinical experience and peer reviewed scientific studies of the occupational safety and health centers before federal treatment funding was available. Read more
EFFORT TO GET NEW YORK CITY TO RELEASE 9/11 DOCUMENTS
With the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2021, Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler wrote to Mayor DeBlasio and called on him and his administration to open the City’s files and help provide to injured and ill 9/11 responders, survivors, and their families a better understanding of what the Giuliani Administration knew about the likely scope of the health crisis that would affect so many and when they knew it. Read More
INJURED & ILL MONUMENT
On May 30th of 2019, the National September 11th Memorial and Museum opened the 9/11 Memorial Glade. Read more
FDNY CLINIC FUNDING
Apparently from 2016 to 2020, the U. S. Department of the Treasury had been withholding portions of reimbursement payments that were supposed to have been made to the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program, totaling $3.3 Million dollars, under its contract to provide services for 9/11 responders who worked for the FDNY, both Firefighters and EMS personnel.
Thankfully, after several months or denial and resistance, the Trump administration finally agreed to stop withholding the funds and will be releasing what was withheld. Read More
NATIONAL PROVIDER NETWORK (NPN) CONTRACT
Since the Program’s inception in 2011, the Federal contract to run the National Provider Network (NPN) had been with Logistics Health Incorporated (LHI).
Logistics Health Incorporated had difficulties in delivering services across the country as documented in press reports but there were plans to improve service delivery, with better recruitment of providers, to establish brick and mortar locations in areas with high membership numbers, in addition to other steps to address the problems. Read More.
IF YOU NEED HELP
If you need help, are having difficulties in accessing services or have questions about the World Trade Center Health Program or the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, 9/11 Health Watch is here to help. Use the form below to ask your question or explain the problem you are having, and we will contact you. Read More.
NY PRESBYTERIAN FOR YEARS DENIED EASY ACCESS TO ITS SERVICES FOR 9/11 RESPONDERS AND SURVIVORS
Under Public Pressure, finally reversed their policy and will now allow WTC Health Program members Easy access to their services.
All the major hospitals in the New York Metropolitan area have been allowing for easy access to their facilities for injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors who get medical treatment from the World Trade Center Health Program, all except for NY Presbyterian, one of the largest hospitals in the world. Read More.
PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER (PBM) CONTRACT
On April 15th, 2021, the CDC announced the solicitation of bids from potential contractors to deliver Pharmacy Benefit Manger Services to the World Trade Center Health Program.
On September 14, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) awarded the contract to provide Pharmacy Benefit Manager Services for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) to Express Scripts, (Contract Number 75D301-21-C-12499) which is owned by Cigna Insurance which was ranked 12 largest company in the US in 2021, replacing the previous Pharmacy Benefit Manger Optum RX which had been providing Pharmacy services to the program for the past 5 years. Read More.
OMB PROPOSAL
The U.S. House of Representatives has decisively rejected Budget Director Mick Mulvaney’s 2018 proposal that would have seriously harmed the World Trade Center Health Program and the medical monitoring and treatment that it provides to over 86,000 9/11 responders and survivors who are in every State and in 433 out of 435 Congressional Districts across the country. Read more
SCAMMERS
Consumers are reporting a new imposter scam — this time the callers are pretending to be with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). According to reports, the callers are telling people they may be entitled to money, and they are asking people for their personal information to determine if they are eligible. It’s a scam. Read more
SEQUESTER
The “Sequester” is threatening to cut the funding of the two programs created by the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Unless Congress acts to delay or stop the government-wide cuts or exempt the 9/11 programs, these programs will face over $200 million in cuts. These cuts will total $69 million for the World Trade Center (WTC) Health program and $166 million for the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). These cuts will deny 9/11 responders and survivors the medical monitoring and treatment that they need and the compensation for permanent injuries, illnesses and death authorized by the VCF. Read more
TAX RELIEF
Because of the efforts of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, some little-known tax breaks for injured and ill 9/11 Responders and Survivors will now be clearly available to injured and ill 9/11 Responders and Survivors and their families. Read more