Local clinic receives $10 million federal grant

The Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) in Libby was awarded a $10 million federal grant to help provide asbestos-related health screenings.

The grant, from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, provides $2.5 million per year for four years to help the CARD clinic conduct health screenings, both locally and abroad, for asbestos-related health conditions as well as for lung cancer screenings for Libby residents.

Tracy McNew, clinical care and research manager for the center, said the grant covers screening and diagnosis, but not the long-term care needed for patients. The long-term care of patients, she said, is covered by Medicare as an added benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

“The grant covers asbestos health screening, both locally and at a distance, as well as lung cancer screening in Libby and national outreach and education. Ongoing care, including cancer treatment and chronic disease management is not covered by the grant,” she said. “Once someone is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease from Libby Amphibole they become eligible for Medicare no matter what their age or disability status (Affordable Care Act benefit) and this makes ongoing care and treatment more affordable for our patient population. The screening grant itself is also tied to the Affordable Care Act and is part of a comprehensive healthcare solution for Libby’s asbestos-exposed population.”

The new grant, McNew said, replaces a nearly identical expiring one, also $10 million over a four-year span. In addition to work performed at CARD, the grant covers expenses to third-party organizations assisting with the screenings, locally and out of the area.

“Over half the money is spent in contracts to other organizations,” McNew said. “The biggest contract is with Cabinet Peaks, which performs all chest X-rays and CT scans for the program. There were just under 3,500 (about 875 annually) screening for asbestos-related disease during the last grant period.”

Dr. Brad Black, director of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, said the center depends upon the grant funding in order to deliver services to those impacted by asbestos related diseases.

“The screening grant is critical for CARD’s ongoing services to both past and current residents of Libby, providing free screening for asbestos related disease and free lung cancer screening for those at high risk,” Black said.

McNew said the grant provides an opportunity for people potentially impacted by asbestos related disease to get diagnosed early and begin treatment.

“It is extremely beneficial for anyone concerned about exposure,” she said. “It offers a free opportunity to be proactive about health in terms of Libby amphibole exposure as well as outreach and education for the community. The grant also allows us to screen not only people who live in the area but anyone who currently lives elsewhere but was exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos in Libby.”

Representatives from the center traveled to Washington, D.C. in April to meet with Sen. Jon Tester, who helped push the grant through federal channels. In an April 9, 2015, letter to Department of Health and Human Services project officer Theodore Larson, Tester explained the importance of the grant.

“Over the past 15 years, CARD has demonstrated excellence in meeting the needs of individuals affected by the asbestos exposure,” he wrote. “Based on their extensive experience, the proposed project will be implemented in the most efficient and effective manner in Libby and across the nation. This asbestos health screening project is of the utmost importance for early detection of asbestos-related disease health effects, including lung cancers, resulting from the Libby asbestos exposure. This project will facilitate access to asbestos healthcare services and benefits that the diagnosed population most certainly needs and deserves.”