Free asbestos health screenings through MASSA to end Sept. 19
Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activities funding grant not renewed by Federal government
by Dawn Ballou, LibbyMT.com
September 4, 2008
The free asbestos health screenings offered by the Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activities (MASSA) will end on September 19, 2008.
MASSA offered free initial and follow-up screening to anyone who lived, worked, played, or attended school in the Libby area for at least six months prior to December 31, 1990. The MASSA program was funded through grants by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program was administered by the State of Montana. The grant for the program was not renewed.
MASSA was for individuals who participated in the asbestos screenings in 2000 and 2001 and were told their tests were negative for asbestos related disease. MASSA offered periodic screening for those same individuals to monitor and watch for any changes with their health so they could inform their physicians. Since 2003, thousands of Libby residents took advantage of the free lung tests to test for asbestos-related cancer.
Residents who have not yet been screened for asbestos-related disease have until September 19th to receive screening by MASSA. After the 19th, residents who have lived in Libby for at least six months can take advantage of free screenings provided by the Libby Asbestos Medical Plan (LAMP).
LAMP provides two categories of benefits both specifically related to the screening and/or treatment of asbestos-related diseases associated with the Libby asbestos exposure. LAMP has a lifetime maximum benefit of $25,000 per individual. Individuals must complete the application and be accepted before receiving benefits through LAMP.
The LAMP program is funded through money from W.R. Grace Company as the result of a legal settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine near Libby where asbestos-contaminated ore was mined for years. The mine was closed down in 1990 after health concerns were raised about asbestos contamination in ore from the mine. The health impacts became clear after a high rate of Mesothelioma cancer came to light in people associated with exposure to vermiculite from the mine. Health issues related to the mine caused the Environmental Protection Agency to declare Libby a Superfund site and spend years implementing extensive asbestos cleanup and removal efforts across the community. The $250 million settlement was the highest sum in the history of the Superfund program.
The MASSA office will remain open until the end of the year, said Claire Evans RN with MASSA. People can still come into the office to get questions answered and obtain copies of their records.
For more information, contact:
MASSA - Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activity
609 Mineral Avenue
Libby, MT 59923
Phone: 406-293-5060
LAMP - Libby Asbestos Medical Plan
c/o New West Health Services
PO Box 548
Kalispell, MT 59903-5048
Phone: 1-877-889-8405 (toll free)
CARD - Center for Asbestos Related Disease
214 East 3rd Street
Libby, MT 59923
Phone: (406) 293-9274
FAX: (406) 293-9280
info@libbyasbestos.org
Editor’s Note: Duane Williams, KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio, contributed to this story.
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