The World Trade Center Health Program once again certified diseases associated with a 9/11 terrorist attack after a few chaotic weeks of leaving several cancer patients, including the first respondent, without access to treatment.
Certification is the process in which the federal program confirms that related diseases 9/11 meet the requirements for maintenance or compensation.
John Howard, administrator of the program, is the only official authorized to approve this certification, and his status is questioned for weeks.
Howard was dismissed in February and allegedly restored after a public reaction; However, there are signs that he is not completely and formally restored, including freezing on certification that requires his signature until Thursday morning.
https://abcnews.go.com/us/critically-IL-LIL-911-Responders-turnired-program-leant-save/story?id=121338021
In the internal memo obtained by ABC News, the Head of the Federal Branch with the Department of Health Services and Human Services Writing, “We can continue the current registration, certification, and processing letter.”
Firefighters in the middle of the debris -Puing World Trade Center after the attack 9/11, September 11, 2001, in New York.
Universal History/Picture History Archive Group Via Getty
David Prezant, Head of the New York City Fire Department of Fire Officer and Director of the World Trade Center Health Program, confirmed to ABC News that he received the memo, and he could once again treat new patients.
The notification indicates a turning point after what Prezant said was silence for weeks, confusion, and life-threatening delays.
It also followed Federal’s orders to dismiss 20% of his staff in April – only a few months after being fired, then restored, a series of staff members, including Howard.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Republican who represented New York and was an old congress supervisor for this program, welcomed the news and vowed to ensure that Howard remained completely restored.
“Every question about Dr. Howard’s authority as an administrator has been completed – as confirmed directly with Dr. Howard himself,” Garbarino wrote to ABC News in a statement. “Now, the registration and certification left in Limbo must be handled immediately.”
“Let me be clearer: whatever endangers treatment for respondents 9/11 and the survivors cannot be maintained,” added the statement.
Ben Chevat, executive director of residents for the extension of James Zadroga’s law, praised media coverage and bipartisan pressure to force reversal.
“I am happy that respondents 9/11 who need cancer treatment will get their cancer treatment – but they should never be delayed,” he said.
Recovery of certification means that this program can now review and approve claims from respondents and victims who have developed new conditions related to terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Certification is a key step that allows patients to start treatment or submit compensation. Without it, the clinic was forced to postpone treatment for some of the most sick patients.
“The Center for Clinical Excellence of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the National Provider Network continue to provide services to current program members,” a spokesman for controlling and preventing disease in a statement to ABC News. “This program accepts, reviews, and processes new registration applications and certification requests.”
“It is good that certification has been continued, but we have seen how fast things can be unraveled,” Chevat said. “We still need full transparency and accountability to ensure this does not happen again.”
For now, the clinic has been told that they will see the newly processed certification no later than May 5. Program staff and supporters say they are relieved – but remain aware of the future.