§300mm–21 Identification of WTC responders and provision of WTC-related monitoring services

Summary

Sets who counts as a WTC responder and how they get into the WTC health monitoring program. A WTC responder means people who meet the listed categories below. It includes people already identified as eligible under the January 2, 2011 arrangements with the Mt. Sinai-coordinated consortium or the Fire Department of New York City; people who meet the program’s current rules; and people who did rescue, recovery, cleanup, demolition, or similar work at the attack sites and meet exposure rules the WTC Program Administrator sets after consulting experts. Key time and work rules are: FDNY members who worked at least one day at WTC sites between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002; certain surviving FDNY family members who had mental-health treatment on or before September 1, 2008; people who worked or volunteered in lower Manhattan, the Staten Island Landfill, or barge piers for at least 4 hours from September 11–14, 2001, or 24 hours from September 11–30, 2001, or 80 hours from September 11, 2001–July 31, 2002; NYPD and Port Authority police with specified onsite participation; Office of Chief Medical Examiner and similar morgue workers from September 11, 2001–July 31, 2002; PATH tunnel workers for at least 24 hours from February 1–July 1, 2002; vehicle-maintenance workers exposed to contaminated debris as described; and responders at the Pentagon and Shanksville sites who worked during cleanup (or DoD/federal workers and contractors who worked September 11–September 18, 2001), if the Administrator finds they are at increased risk. The Administrator must enroll those already identified by July 1, 2011 and enroll others who qualify, unless enrollment limits are reached. There is a 75,000 cap for most new enrollments, with up to 2,500 of those allowed under modified eligibility, and a separate cap of 500 for certain Pentagon/Shanksville categories. The program will limit enrollments so funds cover care, give priority in application order, charge no application fee, decide applications within 60 days, and allow appeals of denials. Anyone on the Department of Homeland Security terrorist watchlist is not eligible; the Administrator checks that before enrollment. Provides health monitoring for enrolled responders (except the surviving FDNY family members who are separately listed). Monitoring must follow approved protocols and include clinical exams and long-term health tracking. Active FDNY members get these checks as part of their routine company medical exams. Monitoring is delivered through the Clinical Center of Excellence for each type of responder or, for people living outside the New York area, through arrangements under section 300mm–23.