Originally published World Trade Center Health Program Begins Enrollments for Expanded Population of Pentagon and Shanksville Responders on by https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/world-trade-center-health-program-begins-enrollments-for-expanded-population-of-pentagon-and-shanksville-responders/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=world-trade-center-health-program-begins-enrollments-for-expanded-population-of-pentagon-and-shanksville-responders at Homeland Security
Based on new authority from Congress, on September 11th the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program has expanded enrollment to include additional responders who served on 9/11 and in the following weeks at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania following the publication of an interim final rule effective September 11, 2024.
Prior to today’s interim final rule, there were a total of 1,330 Pentagon and Shanksville responders enrolled in the WTC Health Program (1,183 Pentagon and 147 Shanksville). However, previous research shows it is possible that up to 8,500 people may have responded at the Pentagon site and more than 1,000 people responded to the Shanksville crash site. These people are now eligible for the WTC Health Program and include:
- employees of the Department of Defense (DOD) or any other federal agency, contractors of the DOD or any other federal agency
- members of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services
“Today’s action means that those who bravely responded to the Pentagon and Shanksville sites on 9/11 and in the following weeks, who were previously ineligible, may now qualify for the WTC Health Program, opening up monitoring and treatment with no out-of-pocket costs upon enrolling in the Program,” said Administrator of the WTC Health Program John Howard, M.D. “We encourage all Pentagon and Shanksville responders to visit our website, www.cdc.gov/wtc, to learn more about eligibility and enrollment.”
Prior to today, Pentagon and Shanksville responder eligibility was limited by law to members of a fire or police department (active or retired), and people who worked for a recovery or cleanup contractor, or was a volunteer; and performed rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services.
The change in eligibility is a result of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, in which Congress expanded enrollment eligibility criteria for Pentagon and Shanksville responders. This required changes to the Program’s existing regulations and the publication of an interim final rule before new enrollments could begin.
Prior to today’s expanded eligibility, over 135,000 members are enrolled in the WTC Health Program. Since 9/11, over 84,000 people have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions resulting from exposure to the dust, debris, and traumatic events of 9/11. More than 20 years later, as thousands suffer with chronic health conditions linked to 9/11 exposures, experts predict that the health effects from these attacks will continue for many decades to come.
The WTC Health Program is a limited federal health program administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Program provides no-cost medical monitoring and treatment for certified WTC-related health conditions to those directly affected by the 9/11 attacks in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and is authorized through 2090.
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Originally published World Trade Center Health Program Begins Enrollments for Expanded Population of Pentagon and Shanksville Responders on by https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/world-trade-center-health-program-begins-enrollments-for-expanded-population-of-pentagon-and-shanksville-responders/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=world-trade-center-health-program-begins-enrollments-for-expanded-population-of-pentagon-and-shanksville-responders at Homeland Security
Originally published Homeland Security