The care of September 11 hero interrupted after a wave of layoffs

Firefighters or stakeholders in the September 11 attacks saw their treatments interrupted after layoffs in their dedicated health program.

For the heroes of September 11, weeks of worry and confusion. Last February, Dr. John Howard, administrator of a health program dedicated to stakeholders who developed illnesses after the World Trade Center attacks, had been dismissed as 20% of its staff due to a federal order.

A turning point in the health program, which had the consequence of interrupting the treatments of several people who were involved in September 11, including firefighters. Their status was no longer the subject of a certification to receive these treatments. Certification that only Dr. John Howard could assign.

“We have postponed the chemotherapy of a firefighter this week (…) It is too young to benefit from Medicare (the federal health insurance program for seniors, editor’s note.), And this delay could cost him his life,” said Dr. David Prezant, chief of New York firefighters and director of the World Trade Center.

Another person who risked his life during the attacks, could not start his chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. Two other speakers were also denied cancer treatment, lists the doctor.

“Indefensible”

After weeks of concern, Dr. John Howard was finally reinstated in the program, allowing the resumption of treatments and attributions of certifications.

“All questions about the powers of Dr Howard as a administrator have been resolved, as Dr. Howard himself confirmed directly,” said representative Andrew Garbarino, an elected representative of New York involved in the congress program in a statement relayed by ABC News.

“Now, the inscriptions and certifications that had remained unanswered must be treated immediately. Let’s be clear: everything that jeopardizes the care provided to the stakeholders and the survivors of September 11 is indefensible,” he adds.

The restoration of certification means that the World Trade Center health program can now examine and approve the requests of survivors who have developed new pathologies linked to terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Certifications allow patients to be compensated for this care.