The report outlined 15 recommendations to improve treatment

Building on a 2007 report of September 11th–related health recommendations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday announced plans to expand medical- and mental-health treatment options for those suffering from the effects of 9/11.

The mayor’s “9/11 health agenda” is the city’s response to Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11, a report issued last year by the researchers and physicians of the WTC Medical Working group. The report outlined 15 recommendations to improve treatment for people with 9/11-related illnesses, and under the 9/11 health agenda the city has completed or implemented plans for each one. They include:

• Expanding treatment services at Bellevue Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital Center and Gouverneur Healthcare Services, where more than 2,800 New Yorkers have been treated to date for 9/11-related problems.
• Enrolling more than 1,000 New Yorkers in a new financial-reimbursement program for those receiving 9/11-related mental health services.
• Launching a comprehensive website for 9/11 health information and service listings. The site has had more than 300,000 visits to date (visit www.nyc.gov).
• Disseminating 9/11 medical-treatment guidelines to 40,000 health professionals and sending health information regularly to more than 5,000 residents and city employees.

Additionally, the city has committed $100 million over five years for the 9/11 health agenda, and continues to advocate for federal funding to monitor and treat people with 9/11-related mental and physical health issues.

Recent federal efforts include securing more than $108 million from Congress for fiscal year 2008, obtained with the support of local representatives, labor leaders, and local health and environmental organizations. The city also has worked for passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2008 to provide a consistent funding stream for 9/11-related treatment, and the re-opening of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

To help raise awareness of the 9/11 health agenda’s resources, the mayor and Health and Hospitals Corporation President Alan Aviles are launching a new $5 million city-wide marketing campaign. Targeting a broad range of individuals exposed to the attacks -- including adults and children who may not have linked their symptoms to 9/11 exposure -- the multi-lingual campaign directs New Yorkers to the WTC Environmental Health Center and to www.nyc.gov and 311 for help.

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