Baucus inserts coverage in health care bill for those affected by Libby asbestos

13 Jan 2010 by Wendi Lewis under Events, News, People

A December report by the Times revealed that Sen. Max Baucus (D-) has inserted language into the government’s proposed health care legislation that would provide coverage specifically for people exposed to in Libby, . According to the report, language in the bill would expand Medicare coverage to vicitims of “environmental health hazards.”

According to the Times, the language is even more precise, calling for coverage for “individuals exposed to environmental health hazards recognized as a public health emergency in a declaration issued by the fedearl government on June 17.” This declaration and date, of course, coincides with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s designation of Libby as a Public Health Emergency area.

The Times quotes Baucus as saying the language is not only intended for the people of Libby, but for anyone in the future whose town is affected by a similar tragedy that affects the health and well-being of its people. He said the legislation would provide a safety net to “help people when they need it most.”

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed their versions of the health care reform bill last year. It is now up to the 111th Congress as a whole to reconcile the two bills so that they may be presented to President Obama for his signature.

Congressional leaders say they hope to accomplish this by the end of January.

  • mikecrill

    Allow me to state my veiw on this”all of a sudden we care about Libby people” by Max “WR disGrace Baucus”, by his slipping this bill into the Health Bill.Please don't get me wrong, we ALL need cared for till we die and it cost a average of $500 thousand to treat a asbestos victim(thats without surgery). I am one of these favored Libby Victims.In the 10 years I have been sick, NOT one dime was spent by WR Grace to pay for my oxygen.Years of constant pleas to help me recieve oxygen that I can not afford and NO ONE helped me.NO ONE.Upon filing Medical bankrupcy, I got a settlement from my Dads death and paid off my bills but the point I want to make is that,reguardless…when we need help, we are going to get it Bankrupcy or not.And unless the Medical condition is not lung related, we are not covered.Even thou we all know what all else we go throu because of this exposure.IF this Medical Bill was to pay for everything,that would be great,but I believe it does not.(MS,Crohns,Colon,etc etc).And the main reason for this letter is that what Max “WR GRace” Baucus did,and I am mad as hell about it and YOU ALL should be mad about it..is what Max has done, knowningly, is put OUR Medical Bill onto the Taxpayer and saving WR disGrace BILLIONS. BILLIONS this will cost all of us/you and WR disGrace don't pay a dime.Not ONLY did WR disGrace get away with murder but now they don't have to pay for what THEY DID to us.This is wrong and this is CRIMINAL and I do hope all the people out there stand up to this failure of justice not only for the Victims but for the rest of this country.Make these Corporations pay for what they did.Not the Victims nor the American Tax payer.REMEMBER Max Baucus works for WR Grace as do alot of corrupt people.Maybe the Meso world can yell about this.I just want WR Grace to pay for me….not you.Thank you and God Bless all who live and die with this madness.

  • mike crill

    And another thing is that when EPA came to Libby, along with them came this offer.”We all have a opputunity to make alot of money.BUT, we have to do this.”How can we downplay this exposure and then How much money can be made.Since that day in 1999 when we the people were told the truth as to why we are sick and dying…all of a sudden Libby became for sale as a safe place to live and raise a family.And the Millions began to roll into Libby.No oversight,NO accountability and the main players in this web of decieve is the Medical profession.(why not,we are the victims)(They also did this to us) and MILLIONS have gone to those who also work for WR Grace.WR Grace has not left Libby Mt.Hundreds of millions of dollars have been wasted/stolen and not one human being has been saved nor has the killing of more people by the lies being sold that Libby is safe.The Medical people in Libby(Card and St Johns) have been funded by WR Grace since the 70s.Dr Whitehouse who was WR Grace Dr is the one who diagnose all of us with Plueral not asbestosis for WR Graces sake.WR Grace is only paying us 6 thousand for our pain and suffering as Plueral don’t seem to matter.And the State of Montana offered us 3 thousand to settle.Can you believe that!!!! Anyway,the funding of these WR Grace Drs. and players needs to stop and I have gone to the US Attorney and filed a complaint against these doctors who NOW, after 10 years are telling me I have nothing wrong with me…when they know I am dying.I speek for many of us who have become again victims by denial but then again,Libby Mt don’t seem to matter. 2000 lives are no big deal.It is if it is you and your entire family or your from Libby Mt.Please stay away from Libby Mt.Not a safe place to anything…that breathes.God Bless

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3GMK454A22NZRQSZCYD2BZRXU4 Keith D'elia

    Wow, I had not known all that about Baucus but I am sorry to hear it. One thing I did already know was that the situation in Libby is a tragedy:
    http://www.mymeso.org/2010/01/13/baucus-inserts-coverage-in-health-care-bill-for-those-affected-by-libby-asbestos/

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