§300mm–21 Identification of Wtc Responders and Provision of Wtc-related Monitoring Services

Summary

It says who counts as a World Trade Center (WTC) responder and how they can join the WTC health program. People already identified as eligible under the agreements in effect on January 2, 2011 with the Mt. Sinai consortium or the Fire Department of New York City must be enrolled by July 1, 2011. Other qualifying people include FDNY members who worked at least one day at WTC sites between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002 (and certain surviving immediate family members who got mental health treatment by September 1, 2008); law enforcement, rescue, cleanup, and support workers who met exact time thresholds at specific locations (for example, at least 4 hours from Sept 11–14, 2001, or 24 hours from Sept 11–30, 2001, or 80 hours through July 31, 2002); Office of Chief Medical Examiner staff who handled remains from Sept 11, 2001 through July 31, 2002; Port Authority Trans‑Hudson Tunnel workers who worked at least 24 hours from Feb 1–July 1, 2002; vehicle‑maintenance workers exposed to contaminated vehicles; and responders at the Pentagon and Shanksville who worked during cleanup and whom the Program Administrator finds were at increased exposure risk and meet exposure rules. The Program Administrator can also add people under modified exposure rules, but cannot change those rules once enrollments hit 80% of the program limit or survivor certifications hit 80% of their limit. The Administrator must set up an enrollment process, enroll people who meet the rules, make decisions within 60 days, charge no application fee, and allow appeals. New enrollments outside the already‑identified groups are capped at 75,000 total, with no more than 2,500 under the modified criteria, and no more than 500 for certain Pentagon/Shanks categories; the Administrator must limit openings so funds remain available and generally admits people in the order they apply. Anyone on the Department of Homeland Security terrorist watch list cannot be enrolled. Enrolled responders (except the surviving family members noted above) get medical monitoring and exams under approved protocols, including long‑term health tracking; active FDNY members get these through their regular company medical exams. Monitoring is provided by Clinical Centers of Excellence or by arranged providers for people living outside the New York area.