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The World Trade Center Health Program

The World Trade Center Health Program. An Overview. Prepared by Single Stop USA. What is the WTC Health Program?. The WTC Health Program was established in 2011 under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.

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The World Trade Center Health Program

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  1. The World Trade Center Health Program An Overview Prepared by Single Stop USA

  2. What is the WTC Health Program? • The WTC Health Program was established in 2011 under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. • It provides health tests and medical care for people who worked in response and recovery at the World Trade Center. • It also provides services for survivors who were in the New York City disaster area, and those that lived, worked, or were in school in the area.

  3. What is a Responder? • Responder:a worker or volunteer who provided rescue, recovery, demolition, debris removal, and other services specifically because of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.

  4. What is a Survivor? • Survivor: a person who lived, worked, was in school or was in day care in the New York City disaster area on September 11, or in following months.

  5. Map of NYC Disaster Area: • The entire area of Manhattan that is south of Houston Street. • Any block in Brooklyn that is within a 1.5-mile radius of the former World Trade Center site, including: • Brooklyn Heights • Northern Downtown Brooklyn • DUMBO • Western Vinegar Hill Houston St. Canal St. WTC Site

  6. Examples of “Responders” • Patrick volunteered in the World Trade Center site following the September 11th attacks, performing rescue work in the debris • Cynthia worked on the barge loading piers, managing shipments of debris from Manhattan to the Staten Island Landfill (Fresh Kills). • Jennifer worked for the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, and handled human remains from the WTC attacks. • Angel worked in the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Tunnel • Rudolph was exposed to debris from the former World Trade Center while maintaining vehicles for the Red Cross.

  7. Examples of “Survivors” • Wanda was visiting a friend in the financial district the morning of September 11th, and got trapped in the dust cloud when trying to evacuate from the neighborhood. • Harriet worked in the financial district a few blocks away from the towers; she returned to work only weeks after September 11th. • Sally studied at Stuyvesant High School and was evacuated on September 11th, but returned to school in a month’s time. • Robert was doing routine maintenance on telephone lines in the area near ground zero for almost two months after the September 11th attacks. • Diego worked in an office building in the WTC disaster area, returning to work only a couple months after the attacks.

  8. Application Process • Completed Application (along with required documents) • 1-2 Week Processing Period • If approved will be notified in writing and enrolled in the program; may schedule first monitoring appointment immediately. • If Denied, follow steps to a Fair Hearing* • Approved Responder applicants are then able to set up an appointment at any of the available WTC Health Program Clinic Center of Excellence in NYC and NJ

  9. Application: Overview All documentation is available on the WTCHP website: http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/ • All applications are available in English, Spanish, Polish, and Chinese. • Application must have Name, Address, and Date of Birth • When submitting the application, it is best to fax for the applicant to avoid any problems that may arise; but can also mail (make sure to ask for a Return Receipt with proof of delivery). • Undocumented individuals are able to apply. In order to expedite the process it is best, but not required, to supply an IRS tax ID number (or ITIN), passport number (from home country), driver’s license, etc. They can be expired.

  10. Application: Responders • Responders do not need to have symptoms when applying to the Health Program. • All accepted Responders are guaranteed for five years of monitoring and treatment. • The Federal Government will cover all costs, whether or not the patient is insured. All medications approved by Health Program-affiliated physicians that are prescribed due to a specifically 9/11-related condition are free of charge.

  11. Survivors Need Symptoms • Anyone applying as a Survivor must write down all WTC-related symptoms. Potential clients will be contacted if no symptoms are given. • May prove useful to prompt with these questions: • Has their family/partner noticed anything different with them? • Have they been hospitalized recently? • Have they needed any new medications?

  12. Application: Survivors • Survivors are only eligible to visit three hospitals: Bellevue,Gouverneur , and Elmhurst. • If approved, and Survivors have insurance, the insurance will be billed first, however there will be no out of pocket costs. • All co-pays or premiums will be paid for by the federal government, as well as any approved treatments/medications not covered through insurance.

  13. Required Documents: Responders • Applicants must have documents proving the following: 1) Your work or volunteer activity at the former World Trade Center site(s). 2) Your location at the former World Trade Center site(s). 3) The time period that you were working or volunteering at the site(s). • Applicants can obtain these documents from their work, a union, or an employer/co-worker (the closer, the better). • For example: pay stubs, official personnel roster, written statement from employer, etc.

  14. Required Documents: Survivors • Applicants must have documents proving the following: 1) The location of your home, work, or school, child care, or adult day care 2) The time period that you lived, worked, or attended school at that location. -Note: Survivors must prove a certain amount of time was spent in the disaster area. • Examples include: • Wage income transcript from 2001 • Call the IRS at (1-800)829-1040 to get that document • Site worker must call while sitting with the client • Affidavit from a co-worker • Photographs (only can be used as secondary evidence)* • Utility bills • What else? • As a last resort, applicants may write own affidavit: a narrative, explaining their story. Only if the applicant was in the disaster area on Sept. 11, 2001

  15. Example 1 • Julio was at home in Washington Heights, Manhattan when the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred. A couple days after, Julio went to ground zero to volunteer with the Red Cross in the search and rescue operations. He worked in the rubble for over two months. A few years ago, he began to experience coughing fits, and dizzy spells. To this day, Julio continues to experience these health problems in addition to frequent shortness of breath on a daily basis. • What do you see? What follow-up questions must we ask?

  16. Example 1 • Due to the nature of his work in ground zero, Julio is already eligible for the WTC Health Program, as a Responder. Although he has symptoms that appear to be directly related to the attacks on 9/11, he does not need to have them in order to qualify for health monitoring. If, upon his first visit, a doctor rules these symptoms as WTC-related, Julio will be able to begin receiving treatment, at no out of pocket cost.

  17. Julio’s application

  18. Julio’s application

  19. Julio’s application

  20. Points to Remember • SYMPTOMS FOR SURVIVORS • Undocumented individuals are able to apply. And applicants are not required to list a SSN, ITIN, etc. • When submitting the application, it is best to fax. If mailed, make sure to request a Return Receipt with proof of delivery. • If symptoms are found to be ineligible under the WTC HP, applicants can be referred out to separate HHC sliding scale clinics.

  21. Points to Remember (Cont.) • Applications are processed within 1-2 weeks. If there is no notification within a month, clients are urged to call hotline at (1-888-WTC-HP4U or 1-888-982-4748) for updates on the application process. • Note: There is no connection between the WTC Health Program and the WTC Health Registry; registry provides no medical help. • Outside of NYC? There is a national WTC Health Program: • The federal government has located resources and services nationwide (through United Healthcare) designed for folks that either relocated, or are planning to relocate in the near future. Applicants are encouraged to state a potential change of address directly in their application.

  22. Application Follow-up • The main reason for potentially denied applications would be an incomplete application, therefore: • Make sure to fill out all necessary information • Provide as much evidence as possible to prove an applicant’s employment, residence, education, or any other information that proves they were there. • For Survivors, make sure to fill-out all symptoms on the application. • Call hotline at 1-888-WTC-HP4U for updates on any specific application’s process.

  23. Important information • To access the applications and for various FAQs: • http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/ • For a complete list of WTC HP Medical centers: • http://www.cdc.gov/WTC/clinics.html • To access information relating to NIOSH: • http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/ • All questions may be directed to either the WTC Health Program’s hotline or email: • 1-888-WTC-HP4U or 1-888-982-4748 • wtc@cdc.gov

  24. The World Trade Center Health Program Any questions? Prepared by Single Stop USA

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