Libby, MT-Montana senator, Max Baucus, recently added a provision to the United States Senate version of the healthcare reform bill, which would allow Medicare to cover "individuals exposed to environmental health hazards." If the bill passes, it would give nearly 2,000 residents of Libby, Montana the healthcare they desperately need to treat their asbestos-related diseases, as reported by the Flathead Beacon.
The new provision targets people who reside in areas that have been issued a declaration of public health emergency. Throughout the history of the United States, only one declaration has been given, which was issued on June 17, 2009 at the Superfund site in Libby. Around 2,000 Libby residents have become sick from asbestos-related diseases, and hundreds more have ultimately died from the diseases. The often-fatal diseases were acquired from decades of exposure to tremolite at a vermiculite mine operated by W.R. Grace & Co.
The vermiculite that was mined from the W.R. Grace & Co. mines were then predominantly used as insulation and fireproofing in millions of residences across the country. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/ public health emergency declaration was issued to the city of Libby, Baucus states there is no mechanism in place to give the required screenings and proper medical care to the affected residents. Baucus' provision to the healthcare reform bill will enact the much-needed mechanisms for the affected individuals. If the bill were passed, the law would allow grants to be awarded to supply screening services, and to create pilot programs for other medical services. In addition, Libby residents would become eligible for medical coverage under Medicare. Baucus stated, "Public health tragedies like this could happen in any town in America... and we need this kind of mechanism in place to help people when they need it the most."
News article by Asbestos Mesothelioma litigation attorneys: Cooney & Conway.
120 N Lasalle Street - Suite 3000 Chicago, IL 60602-2415
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