Critically ill 9/11 first responders are being turned away from the program meant to save them

https://abcnews.go.com/US/critically-ill-911-responders-turned-program-meant-save/story?id=121338021

A 9/11 responder with life-threatening pancreatic cancer was told this week that he couldn't start chemotherapy. Two others with new cancer diagnoses were also denied treatment, according to Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer of the New York City Fire Department and director of its World Trade Center Health Program.

"We postponed chemotherapy for a firefighter this week, hoping this could be fixed," Prezant said "He's too young for Medicare, and this delay may cost him his life."

All three patients were part of the federally funded World Trade Center Health Program — a system created to care for those who risked their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. But the program has come to a standstill, Prezant said.

The program's longtime leader, Dr. John Howard, was removed in February — and then rehired after bipartisan backlash. But according to Prezant, it remains unclear whether his legal role as administrator was actually restored.

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