There is hereby established within the Department of Health and Human Services a program to be known as the World Trade Center Health Program, which shall be administered by the WTC Program Administrator, to provide beginning on July 1, 2011-
The WTC Program includes the following components:
Medical monitoring under section 300mm-21 of this title, including clinical examinations and long-term health monitoring and analysis for enrolled WTC responders who were likely to have been exposed to airborne toxins that were released, or to other hazards, as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
An initial health evaluation under section 300mm-31 of this title, including an evaluation to determine eligibility for followup monitoring and treatment.
Provision under sections 300mm-22, 300mm-32, and 300mm-33 of this title of followup monitoring and treatment and payment, subject to the provisions of subsection (d), for all medically necessary health and mental health care expenses of an individual with respect to a WTC-related health condition (including necessary prescription drugs).
Establishment under section 300mm-2 of this title of an education and outreach program to potentially eligible individuals concerning the benefits under this subchapter.
Collection and analysis under section 300mm-3 of this title of health and mental health data relating to individuals receiving monitoring or treatment benefits in a uniform manner in collaboration with the collection of epidemiological data under section 300mm-52 of this title.
Establishment under part C of a research program on health conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Monitoring and treatment benefits and initial health evaluation benefits are provided under part B without any deductibles, copayments, or other cost sharing to an enrolled WTC responder or certified-eligible WTC survivor. Initial health evaluation benefits are provided under part B without any deductibles, copayments, or other cost sharing to a screening-eligible WTC survivor.
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a program to review the WTC Program's health care expenditures to detect fraudulent or duplicate billing and payment for inappropriate services. This subchapter is a Federal health care program (as defined in section 1320a-7b(f) of this title) and is a health plan (as defined in section 1320a-7c(c) of this title) for purposes of applying sections 1320a-7 through 1320a-7e of this title.
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a program to review the WTC Program for unreasonable administrative costs, including with respect to infrastructure, administration, and claims processing.
The WTC Program Administrator working with the Clinical Centers of Excellence shall develop and implement a quality assurance program for the monitoring and treatment delivered by such Centers of Excellence and any other participating health care providers. Such program shall include-
Not later than 6 months after the end of each fiscal year in which the WTC Program is in operation, the WTC Program Administrator shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the operations of this subchapter for such fiscal year and for the entire period of operation of the program.
Each annual report under paragraph (1) shall include at least the following:
Information for each clinical program described in paragraph (3)-
For each clinical program so described-
Information on the cost of administering the program, including costs of program support, data collection and analysis, and research conducted under the program.
Information on the administrative performance of the program, including-
A summary of the findings of any new scientific reports or studies on the health effects associated with exposure described in section 300mm-5(1) of this title, including the findings of research conducted under subsection (a) or (c) of section 300mm-51 of this title.
A list of recommendations by the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee on additional WTC Program eligibility criteria and on additional WTC-related health conditions and the action of the WTC Program Administrator concerning each such recommendation.
In paragraph (2), each of the following shall be treated as a separate clinical program of the WTC Program:
The benefits provided for enrolled WTC responders described in section 300mm-21(a)(2)(A) of this title.
The benefits provided for enrolled WTC responders not described in subparagraph (A).
The benefits provided for screening-eligible WTC survivors and certified-eligible WTC survivors in section 300mm-31(a) of this title.
The Secretary shall promptly notify the Congress of each of the following:
The WTC Program Administrator shall engage in ongoing outreach and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the WTC Health Program Steering Committees and the Advisory Committee under section 300mm-1 of this title, regarding the implementation and improvement of programs under this subchapter.
Not later than 18 months after December 18, 2015, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that assesses, with respect to the WTC Program, the effectiveness of each of the following:
Not later than 6 years and 6 months after December 18, 2015, and every 5 years thereafter through fiscal year 2042, the Comptroller General of the United States shall-
The WTC Program Administrator is authorized to promulgate such regulations as the Administrator determines necessary to administer this subchapter.
The WTC Program shall terminate on October 1, 2090.
42 U.S.C. § 300mm
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (f)(2)(E). Pub. L. 117-328 substituted "subsection (a) or (c) of section 300mm-51 of this title" for "section 300mm-51(a) of this title".2015-Subsecs. (i) to (k). Pub. L. 114-113 added subsecs. (i) to (k).
- Administrator
- The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of General Services.
- Advisory Committee
- The term "Advisory Committee" means the Green Building Advisory Committee established under section 484.1
- Secretary
- the term "Secretary" means- (A) the Secretary of Education for purposes of subtitle A (other than section 3201),(B) the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of the amendments made by section 3201, and(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services for purposes of subtitle B,