By Ridgeley Ochs
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.

World Trade Center clinical programs have received a $48 million infusion of federal money to treat Sept. 11 responders, a sign that medical care of workers is shifting from monitoring to treatment.

"I think that it signals, hopefully, a longer-term commitment to these responders who continue to suffer ... and that the federal government is recognizing that," said Dr. Benjamin Luft, principal investigator of the Long Island World Trade Center Monitoring and Treatment Program at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

The New York City Fire Department is to get $20 million, Mount Sinai Medical Center Monitoring and Treatment Program, $16.9 million; and Stony Brook's program, $2.5 million; the rest will go to a group of smaller programs. While most of the $48 million is for outpatient treatment, $8 million will pay for hospitalizations.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said in a statement released late Friday that the money "reflects our commitment to provide compassionate, appropriate and timely support to the responders." So far, the programs have seen about 30,000 responders out of an estimated 40,000.

Up to now, all the money the federal government has provided has been for screening and monitoring - $125 million. Money to provide actual medical treatment came from the Red Cross, which has donated $24.6 million since June 2005.

But the large numbers of responders who have become sick propelled the New York congressional delegation to fight last year for more federal money. In a study published last month by the monitoring and treatment group, 59 percent of 9,442 responders examined between July 2002, and April 2004, reported persistent respiratory symptoms. About half of those screened also have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Luft said.

Dr. Jacqueline Moline, head of Mount Sinai's program, said she and her colleagues continue to be surprised by the numbers of new responders seeking help. In August, she said, the five programs received calls from 1,100 new workers. "It's not going away at all and people are sicker by virtue that they haven't been seen before," Moline said.

Dr. David Prezant, co-director of the FDNY World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, said he expects the money to last less than a year. "The federal government has to help out or we will [be] looking at closing mental health satellite clinics or stopping the medication program," he said.

Luft, whose program has seen 2,800 of the estimated 4,000 responders on Long Island, said the money is desperately needed to hire more doctors and social workers. "What this does is that it fills in the gap so that Congress can take up this issue," he said.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) and Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island) have introduced a resolution in the House seeking money for monitoring and treatment in the 2008 budget.

"I hope that the administration will now begin creating a long-term, comprehensive plan to take care of all affected," Maloney said.

What's the diagnosis?

30,000 World Trade Center responders screened

59% Share of 9,442 responders at World Trade Center site with persistent respiratory problems

12 years Average time lost in lung capacity by each New York City firefighter who responded

21% Share of 14,092 FDNY responders screened who are being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder