| | What HHS Is DoingTopics on this Page Current RoleThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coordinating federal, state, and local government World Trade Center (WTC) health efforts and providing responsible stewardship of federal responder screening, monitoring, and treatment. HHS continues to engage WTC responder community partners. Another goal is the promotion of further scientific understanding of the WTC health effects, now and in the future. Through this website, HHS will answer questions about WTC health impacts, help visitors locate medical or public health expertise, and solicit questions or comments from web visitors. top of page
HHS-Funded ActivitiesHHS responded swiftly to address public health concerns in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition to providing emergency health assistance on the ground during the unprecedented rescue, recovery, clean-up and restoration operations, the Department funded services to track potential health effects from contaminants created by the destruction of the World Trade Center towers. This funding helped partner agencies and health-care institutions study the health impact and address the health needs of World Trade Center tower survivors. From 2001 to 2006, HHS has steadily funded health organizations that provide medical screening, monitoring and treatment for responders. - In 2001 and 2002, HHS distributed $180 million to hospitals and clinics, primarily in New York and New Jersey, to support their efforts in response to the World Trade Center attacks.
- To support mental health treatment, the Department provided $36 million in grants to mental health clinics and others.
- HHS distributed $335 million for expedited health care coverage for low-income New York children and adults in the Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs and temporary medical coverage.
- In 2002, the Department committed $12 million federal dollars to medical screening for responders and volunteers.
- During 2002 and 2003, $113.7 million was committed to support the Word Trade Center Registry and for screening and monitoring for responders and volunteers.
- In 2006, an additional $75 million was appropriated for medical screening, monitoring, and treatment of responders.
HHS-funded programs have contributed significantly to public health by: - Providing medical screening, monitoring, and treatment to responders who served at Ground Zero.
- Establishing a toll-free grief hotline.
- Supporting mental health clinics in areas most severely affected by the attacks.
- Building a health registry of other exposed populations in New York City through which illnesses and potential trends in illnesses are identified for health intervention.
- Generating an increasingly robust body of scientific data through which health issues can be identified and anticipated over time.
- Identifying and implementing measures for strengthening emergency preparedness in the event of future disasters.
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Actions Following 9/11 AttacksNews releases and fact sheets provide background on HHS’ early response. Emergency Response - Implemented the Health Alert System at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This immediately put state and local health departments on alert for anything unusual or mysterious in terms of illness. 81 health laboratories across the U.S. were put on alert. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011003b.html
- Activated the National Disaster Medical System, which prepared 80 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), as well as 7,000 private sector medical and support personnel, to be deployed. This marks the first time the federally coordinated response system had been activated on a full nationwide basis. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010911.html
- Sent a “push pack” containing 50 tons of medical supplies to New York City. HHS has eight of these strategically located throughout the country so they may arrive at any location within 12 hours. The pack sent to New York City arrived in seven hours. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011003b.html
Mental Health - Supported community mental health centers in the New York City area with grants to handle increases in demand for mental health and substance abuse services on September 13, 2001. Also dispatched SAMHSA personnel to New York to conduct longer-range planning for services to rescue workers, survivors and others. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010913c.html
- Announced 23 grants to help eight states and the District of Columbia support crisis mental health services and to supplement existing mental health and substance abuse systems in the areas affected by the September 11 terrorist-inflicted disaster on October 1, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011001b.html
Social Services - Released $1 million to provide a broad range of immediate social and community services in New York City, including temporary shelter, food and clothing. Funds were also made available to provide additional child care services including meeting the needs of emergency and relief workers on September 13, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010913a.html
- Released $500,000 to provide support services to seniors. Many senior centers that had not previously depended on the local aging network may have needed assistance with services, such as transportation to health care, meals and counseling on September 13, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010913a.html
- Released $1.3 million in funds to the New York State Office for the Aging and the Virginia Department for the Aging, states whose seniors have been directly impacted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on October 2, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011002.html
Health Care - Established, through CMS, a 24-hour, toll-free, rapid-response hotline for Medicare, Medicaid and other eligible beneficiaries who experienced trouble getting their usual health care services and social services for daily living needs on September 13, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010913b.html
- Authorized a four-month expedited application period for health care coverage for low-income New York children and adults in the Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs on September 19, 2001. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010919a.html
- Made $35 million in competitive grants available for public and not-for-profit entities that suffered losses because of the attacks. Eligible entities were located in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C., and incurred health care-related expenses or lost revenue as a result of their immediate response to the public health emergency caused by the attacks. Individual grants were between $5,000 and $1 million. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011009.html
Other News Releases and Fact Sheets top of page |
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