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New Clinic Increases Capacity in Scheduling Initial Appointments for Survivor Enrollees

The WTC Health Program has been working to address the time required for scheduling appointments for enrolled survivors to get their initial health evaluations. To increase the number of appointments, we launched a new clinic at 156 William Street in Lower Manhattan. This clinic provides appointments for initial health evaluations — in-depth examinations that look for physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the WTC disaster. For health conditions that are approved (“certified”) as WTC-related, the William Street Clinic will coordinate survivors’ care with WTC providers in the New York metropolitan area.

The clinic opened in late August 2018. Appointments are being scheduled based on enrollment dates, so that those new members who have been waiting the longest will be seen first. Members will be contacted by either phone or mail when they have been assigned to a clinic (either the new William Street Clinic or the existing NYC Survivor Program, New York City Health + Hospitals [H+H]) and it is time to schedule an appointment.

If a member has a serious health condition, such as cancer or interstitial lung disease, that is believed to be related to 9/11 exposures, and is currently in need of treatment for this condition, please contact the WTC Health Program Call Center at 1-888-982-4748 for help in getting an appointment faster.

For members seeking certification for claims with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), administered by the Department of Justice, we work closely with the VCF and they are aware of these delays, as well as the timeline and actions to address the delays.

For more information about the scheduling delays, please see our previous notice.

Questions and Answers about the William Street Clinic

What is the William Street Clinic?

The William Street Clinic is a new clinic for providing initial health evaluations to enrolled survivors in the New York metropolitan area, and coordinating care for survivors to get treatment for approved (“certified”) conditions at WTC Health Program-affiliated providers. The clinic is operated by Logistics Health Incorporated (LHI), which also treats survivors in the Nationwide Provider Network.
Is the William Street Clinic open?

Yes. The William Street Clinic opened on August 30th, 2018.
Where is the new clinic?

It is in Lower Manhattan, at 156 William Street in the Downtown Medical Building.
What is an Initial Health Evaluation?

Your first appointment with a WTC Health Program physician is your initial health evaluation. It is an in-depth exam that looks for physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11th terrorist attacks. The results of the initial health evaluation are used to decide if you have a condition that is eligible for treatment in the WTC Health Program. This process is known as “certification.”
How does opening the William Street Clinic help with the delays?

The new clinic is able to see 375 members for initial health evaluations in the first 30 days, and then increase to seeing 750 members a month. The William Street Clinic capacity is in addition to capacity at the existing NYC Survivor Program at NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H). We are also continually working with H+H to increase their capacity across their three locations at Bellevue, Gouverneur, and Elmhurst.
How long will it take to get an appointment at either the William Street Clinic or H+H?

Our goal is to have everyone scheduled for an initial health evaluation by the end of 2018 (although not all will be completed by then). You will be contacted by either phone or mail when you have been assigned to a clinic (either the William Street Clinic or H+H) and it is time to schedule an appointment.

If you have a serious health condition (such as cancer or interstitial lung disease) that you believe is related to your 9/11 exposures, and are currently in need of treatment for this condition, you should contact the WTC Health Program Call Center at 1-888-982-4748 to request getting an appointment as quickly as possible.
I am seeking certification of my health conditions for my claim with the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Is the VCF aware of these delays?

We work closely with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), administered by the Department of Justice, for those members seeking health condition certification to support a compensation claim. The VCF is aware of these delays as well as our actions and timeline to address the delays.
Can I choose whether to go to the William Street Clinic or H+H?

No. In order to maximize efficiency and ensure that all members are seen in a timely manner, the Program assigns members to clinics based on dates of enrollment. All members receive the same services and high-quality care at both the William Street Clinic and NYC Survivors Program at H+H.
Is the new clinic the same as a Clinical Center of Excellence?

No. The William Street Clinic is not a Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE), but the providers there are medical experts familiar with the WTC Health Program, 9/11 exposures, and WTC-related health conditions. They complete initial health evaluations and request certifications from the Program in the same manner as a CCE, and the clinic also provides benefits counseling and care coordination services like a CCE. However, members will be referred to Program-affiliated providers in the New York metropolitan area to receive treatment for health conditions that are certified for Program coverage.
Do I have to pay anything for my care?

For all survivors in the WTC Health Program, health care (including prescriptions) for certified WTC-related conditions is provided at no out-of-pocket cost. The Program is the secondary payer for all approved healthcare services. This means that your private or public insurance is billed first, and the WTC Health Program pays for any remaining costs, such as co-pays or co-insurance.
Is the new clinic permanent?

The new clinic opened to handle the increase in new survivor enrollees that began in 2017. In 2020, we will determine if there is an ongoing need for the William Street Clinic. If the Program decides to close the William Street Clinic, members will be assigned to a CCE to ensure their Program services are not disrupted.