The World Trade Center Health Program, designed to assist 9/11 responders, has effectively halted treatments due to a lack of certifications, staffing cuts, and budget issues. Dr. David Prezant reported significant delays in chemotherapy for a firefighter, which could be life-threatening. Three patients with new cancer diagnoses are affected by the inability to approve treatments. The program's crisis arises from a combination of factors, including inflation and internal directive halting certification processes, leaving patients without crucial medical care.
We postponed chemotherapy for a firefighter this week, hoping this could be fixed. He's too young for Medicare, and this delay may cost him his life.
To receive care through the program, a responder or survivor must first enroll and then have their illness formally certified by the federal program as being related to 9/11 exposure.
The crisis, Prezant said, is the result of a breakdown on multiple fronts: severe staffing cuts, and budget shortfalls worsened by inflation.
We have been directed not to process any new certifications, an internal email that was shared with ABC News said.
#911-health-program #cancer-treatment #medical-certification #world-trade-center-responders #healthcare-crisis
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