Federal health officials propose free cancer care for 9/11 first responders

CBS/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - First responders and residents who developed cancer after being exposed to the toxic ash that exploded over Manhattan when the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11 would qualify for free treatment for the disease and potentially hefty compensation payments under a rule proposed Friday by federal health officials.

Controversial study shows higher cancer risk in 9/11 firefighters
Study shows rise of cancer in 9/11 firefighters

After months of study, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said in an administrative filing that it favored a major expansion of an existing 9/11 health program to include people with 50 types of cancer, covering 14 broad categories of the disease.

People with any of the cancers on the list could qualify for treatments and payments as long as they and their doctors make a plausible case that the disease might be connected to the caustic dust.

The full list of cancers that would be covered can be found here, and include those of the respiratory system, digestive system, head and neck, skin, breast, childhood cancers, among others.

The decision followed a March recommendation by an advisory committee made up of doctors, union officials and community health advocates, who recommended that cancer be added to the $4.3 billion program. Previously, the aid effort has only covered people with a short list of mostly less-serious ailments, including asthma, acid reflux disease and chronic sinus irritation.

To date, there is little scientific evidence of elevated cancer rates connected to either the trade center dust or other toxins at the ground zero recovery site.

Some doctors and health advocates, however, have expressed concern about the presence of carcinogens in substantial enough amounts to create a risk. NIOSH director Dr. John Howard said in a statement that the agency had embraced all of the recommendations of the advisory panel, which had urged inclusion of a majority of the most common forms of cancer

"We recognize how personal the issue of cancer and all of the health conditions related to the World Trade Center tragedy are to 9/11 responders, survivors and their loved ones," Howard said.

The expansion proposal isn't final yet. The rule will be open for public comment for several weeks, or up to two months, before being finalized. It will still be open to revisions, or even outright abandonment, during that time.

There has been some concern that adding cancer to the list of covered conditions could put a severe financial strain on the program's limited resources. Congress capped funding for the program at $1.55 billion for treatment and $2.78 billion for compensation payments. Those amounts will remain unchanged even if many people file for benefits.

Some 60,000 people have already enrolled in 9/11 health programs for those who lived or worked within the disaster zone.

Sheila Birnbaum, the special master overseeing applications for compensation, has said she might have to prorate payments based on the number of people who apply and the severity of their illnesses.

[goffredo29]

Cancer Centers of America is another cancer that needs to be eradicated. Giving false hope to people with mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer, that sort of thing. Luring them into spending their money and their time at end of life.

[davidzurbina]

There can be a difference between what you and a health insurance company consider healthy. Some insurers will say that you have a health condition if you smoke, are overweight, are taking prescriptions, or had a medical condition in the past. If this describes you, you may want to search and read "************" on the web.

[hypnotoad72]

I second what the Feds propose.

As a nation, we're in this together, and how we treat our own - from the most helpless to the most able TO help... it all matters.

And if you believe "There is no such thing as society, we are a nation of individual men, women, and families", then I recommend you go live like the person who said it... granted, she's retired now and living off the taxpayers she preached to 30 years ago, but whatever... Ayn Rand was a hypocrite as well; they all made brave noises but when push comes to shove, they all failed in their own philosophies.

[freeamerica31]

hypnotoad72 I am firmly opposed.

Don't preach the patriotic crap because if American people were in this together we would have had a draft and instead of many plus deployments of military personnel we would have been there until the end with all men and women of military service age going overseas to fight the wars.

Wasn't there something just the other day where a woman refused a war veteran an apartment because their building in Manhattan was
"Liberal" and the people in the building didn't believe in the wars? Now that's hypocrisy in NY City/State.

NY City building inspectors allowed the contractors and owners to build those buildings to the specifications. Go sue the owners of the buildings instead of leaching off the taxpayers or go sue the countries where the terrorist came from but no more taxpayer money for NY City/State. You are responsible for those guys and you can step up to the plate and take care of them like you should.

How many millionaires leave in Manhattan so don't talk about going bankrupt.

[freeamerica31]

It's different from combat veterans because we didn't build the buildings that caused the toxic mess and those 911 responders are the responsibility of NY City/State not the Federal Government or the Taxpayers of this country.

This would be like saying every 911 responder who goes into a dangerous situation and ends up with some disease and could connect the disease to the job deserves taxpayer funded healthcare even though they work for a specific city.

NY is just trying to milk more money out of the rest of the country and I say no. You have health issues from 911 then sue the buildings owners and the contractors that built those gigantic buildings. Better yet sue the countries that the terrorist came from for damages....but no more tax funded dollars.

I feel for you but everyone takes a chance and sometimes you live and sometimes you die. NY 911 responders have by far been given 100 times more than what a military family would have gotten for the death of their loved ones and you still want more and I say "NO".

[Jaylah54100]

How would this really be any different than paying for medical treatment for wounds suffered during deployment for our military members?

If, when your country needs you, you step up to the plate and answer the call, you shouldn't end up going bankrupt over your resultant medical expenses.

[hypnotoad72]

So, did you have a pimple on your behind when you were called up for duty?

And surely this country needs everyone, to bolster is economy as well, which means learning and applying skills and talents?

Your post is a tad vague, so please forgive my vague response.

P.S. If you're going to be so harsh,

1. I hope something drastic happens to you
2. I hope you don't claim to be of the religious faith known as "Christianity", since Christ didn't go around spewing the insensitive and heartless prattle you did.

[hypnotoad72]

I sincerely apologize; I misread your last paragraph, somehow misinterpreting it as being (paraphrased) "you shouldn't end up being bailed out at everyone else's expense".