By Sally Goldenberg
Staten Island Advance (NY)
Copyright 2007 The Republican Company, Springfield, MA.
All Rights Reserved
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Health care for first responders sickened by their work at Ground Zero is an issue that has inflamed New Yorkers, and lawmakers are once again demanding answers from the federal government.
They want to know how much money will be forthcoming for the medical monitoring and treatment programs run by FDNY and Manhattan-based Mount Sinai, and when those programs will get more federal dollars.
In an argument that has evolved into a New York City-vs.-Washington, D.C., battle, members of the New York congressional delegation said yesterday that a federal Department of Health and Human Services’ task force missed its self-imposed deadline of releasing its latest report by the end of February.
The department said there was no such deadline.
“We need a plan of action to monitor and treat all those who are sick or injured as a result of the terror attacks. We need a plan of action to ensure that those who need medical monitoring and care have access to it,” said Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
At least 2,383 Staten Islanders have enrolled in the FDNY monitoring and treatment program and 2,079 have requested screening and monitoring through the Mount Sinai program.
Fossella signed onto a letter yesterday to Dr. John Agwunobi, who coordinates Sept. 11 health response for the federal department. Dr. Agwunobi appeared last week before a House Budget Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee but failed to deliver the specifics many lawmakers were seeking.
The letter from a host of politicians demands more funds, more information from the health department and a “comprehensive plan to medically monitor all those exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero and treat those who became sick as a result.”
A spokesman Health and Human Services, Holly Babin, said the task force will present Dr. Agwunobi by month’s end with “an analysis of data to help him shape federal policy related to World Trade Center-associated health conditions.”
The lawmakers also took issue with news that emerged during the subcommittee hearing that the task force’s recommendations will not be made public.
To date, the federal government has provided at least $252 million in four infusions for first responders who are suffering from lung, gastrointestinal and mental illnesses, which many blame on their work at Ground Zero immediately after the terror attacks.