By Leah Carliner
UPI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday it intends to speed up its allocation of $75 million to the World Trade Center federal responders program to combat lingering health problems in workers who rushed to the horrific scene on Sept. 11, 2001.
The funds, to be granted over three years, will go to benefit the firefighters, police officers and other federal responders who acted that day and who may be faced with both mental and physical health-related problems, John Howard, the director of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a branch of the CDC, told United Press International Thursday.
Howard proposed that the money be allocated by the end of October, although he added that that timeline is an unlikely goal because it requires the organizations that are receiving the money to submit a significant amount of additional paperwork in a short period of time.
"I think the October deadline is one that is a recommendation," he said.
Only $4.5 million of the total grant has been allocated since August, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.
GAO noted the $4.5 million is a "small portion" and reported that CDC would not distribute much more of the $75 million until making a decision about the scope of treatment coverage that should be provided to WTC federal responders. But now, with the tentative October deadline, it is likely that the decisions about treatment coverage will be expedited.
These decisions included creating a list of medical conditions and prescription drugs that will be covered, and deciding how much of inpatient care should be included for coverage.
Ronald Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Association, said providing medical coverage to WTC federal responders is crucial, especially for retired firefighters because their coverage usually changes.
"The bottom line is, if it is determined that a person's illness is a result of 9/11, it should be covered," said Siarnicki.
Stephanie Folwell, the director of communication for the Friends of Firefighters, said prescription-drug coverage for WTC federal responders should be a lifelong commitment.
"I don't think you can say, 'You're sick for six months, and in six months I'm going to drop you," she said.
The New York Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance is one of the organizations listed in the GAO report that will be receiving money from the $75 million fund. A volunteer network of police officers who provide confidential support to fellow officers and their families, POPPA has provided a critical service since Sept. 11 and was reported to be receiving $1.5 million from the CDC, although now it is likely that that number will change.
"A lot of first responders don't even realize they are sick," said POPPA Vice President Barbra Genet.
In addition to taking on extra volunteers, she said the group was also looking at a long-term plan. "We plan to check groups of first responders on their mental status today and over the next three years," she said.
Cindy Bascetta, director of healthcare at GAO, said that the WTC federal responders program had lost its momentum in February, when it issued its original report, but has since gained more popularity.
"I think it was congressional pressure that got the program resumed," she said.
In addition to congressional pressure, Bascetta also said that the recent media coverage of the illnesses facing police officers and firefighters who acted on Sept. 11 has galvanized new awareness of the program.
In its initial report, GAO found that only 377 federal responders had registered for screening, an important part of the program that helps to identify any health effects that may have their roots in the events of Sept. 11. In the past six months, an additional 1,385 federal responders have registered for screening, GAO said.
The $75 million was designated to CDC by Congress in December 2005 in order to establish programs to benefit the federal responders affected by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
