Enrolling in the World Trade Center Health Program: A Step-By-Step Guide

The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program provides essential medical monitoring and treatment for survivors, both civilians and first responders, who were diagnosed with cancer or a respiratory/digestive condition after the 9/11 attacks. Enrolling in this program is a crucial step for those who were present in lower Manhattan between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002. Whether you are currently in good health or you are or have suffered from any 9/11-related health condition such as any cancer or breathing or digestive disorder, the WTC Health Program recommends that 9/11 survivors and responders enroll in the program immediately. 

The WTC Health Program (WTCHP) serves not only first responders, but also the survivors including anyone who lived, worked, or attended school anywhere in lower Manhattan south of Houston Street between 9/11 and July 31, 2002. Residents of the 9/11-affected areas include office workers who returned to their jobs amidst the devastation and students who were studying within the NYC exposure zone, who are all potentially eligible to enroll in the program.

The following step-by-step guide will help you understand what to expect from the process of enrollment in the WTC Health Program. 

Understanding the WTCHP

The WTCHP is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and is authorized through 2090. The program is dedicated not only to providing healthcare for 9/11 first responders and survivors, but it also conducts research regarding the long-term effects of 9/11 exposure. The WTC Health Program covers a range of physical and mental health issues, such as respiratory and digestive illnesses like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as mental health conditions like PTSD and anxiety disorders, and over 69 different types of cancer. All of these have been linked to the toxic exposure from the attacks on the WTC, as well as those at the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA crash sites.

The WTC Health Program Enrollment Process

The WTC Health Program enrollment process begins with the submission of your application, which the team at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP can handle on your behalf. We ensure all the necessary forms are meticulously completed and submitted. We walk you through each step of the process, as follows.

Application Submission

Hansen & Rosasco starts with an intake process to gather the details of your situation. We then assign you a Case Manager who will gather your proof of presence in the Exposure Zone. You will need to fill out and have you sign the following forms: WTCHP Online Application Signature Form, HIPAA Authorization for Designated Representatives, and Designated Representative Appointment Form. Our in-office WTC Health Program Specialist Josephine Ruby or Kathy Duran will then submit your application to the WTC Health Program. (Note that confirmation of enrollment and certification of a 9/11-related illness comes later in the enrollment process.) 

Guidance is Provided

The attorneys at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP will inform you about the network providers who work with the WTCHP to certify your illness(es) as related to your exposure on 9/11 and the months after. We will provide guidance on the next steps and the timeline you should expect for your WTCHP enrollment. 

Enrollment is Confirmed and Network Information is Provided

Within three weeks of submitting your application to the WTCHP, you should receive your member enrollment letter. This will give you your WTC Health Program member ID number. If there are no issues with your application, you will receive a full enrollment letter from the health program within 2 months after the date of the initial letter. You will then receive information from one of the network providers, who will assign you to a center that will handle the next steps in order to certify your health condition(s). The providers include:

• LHI William Street
• Mount Sinai Clinics
• Stony Brook Clinics
• Northwell Clinics
• Rutgers New Jersey
• NY Health & Hospitals - Bellevue, Elmhurst, and Gouverneur. 
  
  If you live outside the NYC Metro area, your care will be coordinated by Sedgwick, giving you access to a nationwide network of health providers to treat your 9/11-related cancer or other condition.

Telephone Interviews and In-person Appointments

Next will be “intake” and “exam,” a series of telephone interviews your provider will schedule with you to review your exposure and your medical history. This is followed by in-person appointments for necessary lab work, x-rays, etc., and a brief physical exam with a certification doctor. If you are assigned to the William Street Clinic, they will schedule a final certification assessment call to review your file before it is submitted for final approval. 

Certification of Your Illness

After your provider makes their determination, the case is forwarded to the NIOSH for final certification approval. NIOSH gives the final approval to all certifications. Certification letters are sent in a plain white envelope approximately eight weeks after your in-person evaluation. You will then be sent a release of information (ROI) letter in order to obtain any required diagnostic records from your personal doctors.

Enrollment vs. Certification

It's important to understand the distinction between enrollment and certification in the WTCHP. You will receive separate confirmation for each: an enrollment letter at the beginning of the process and a certification letter at the end. Certification is a confirmation of a WTC-related health condition. Once your illness or condition is certified with the WTC Health Program to be 9/11-related, Hansen and Rosasco, LLP can proceed with a claim through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund for financial compensation on your behalf. This compensation covers both economic and non-economic losses suffered by individuals with certified 9/11-related health conditions and their family members. 

Get Certified By the WTCHP with Guidance From a 9/11 Attorney

If you're navigating the complexities of WTCHP enrollment and certification, having guidance from a 9/11 attorney by your side is invaluable. We invite you to reach out to the experienced team at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP for guidance and support throughout this process. We can ensure that every step is taken with care and meticulous attention to detail – from the initial application to the final certification – allowing you to focus on your health and well-being. Contact Hansen & Rosasco, LLP today for assistance with WTCHP enrollment and all your 9/11-related needs.