The recent health care reform legislation provided for the Libby Care which will provide universal medical care for victims of asbestos related disease. The plan is a pilot program for occupational disease medical care fully funded under the Medicare program.
This week Senator Max Baucus, instrumental in crafting and enacting he program, participated in the ground breaking for ceremony for the expansion of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD).
“Today was a great day for CARD and the people of Libby,” Baucus said at the groundbreaking. “We’re all in this together, and it’s really through team work that we’re able to get this expansion done. It’s also great day because now the people of Libby will get the health care they need and deserve.”
Baucus said that the EPA designation, along with the new legislation, “has triggered over $300 million [in health aid for Libby] over the next 10 years. This is going to be bigger and better than the aid that was given to victims of 9/11.”
