Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Future Uncertain For Programs To Aid 9/11 First Responders
Fourteen years after the 9/11 attacks, a new round of uncertainty looms for people exposed to the million tons of toxic dust that fell on New York when hijacked jets toppled the World Trade Center. Two federal programs that promised billions of dollars in compensation and medical care to sick 9/11 responders and survivors are set to expire next year, five years after they were created by Congress. (Caruso, 9/10)
No one disputes that his illnesses are likely caused by his work at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. While Mr. Bethea has received some compensation stemming from his work at Ground Zero, the U.S. Department of Justice won鈥檛 give him a settlement awarded to other first responders and their families who were either killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty because Mr. Bethea was employed by St. Vincent鈥檚 Medical Center鈥攁nd not the city鈥檚 FDNY. (Gay, 9/11)