The World Trade Center Health Program Proposes Rulemaking to Add Uterine Cancer to the List of World Trade Center-Related Conditions

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Stevens, yky0@cdc.gov

Stakeholders are encouraged to review and comment on the proposal published in the Federal Register

Today, the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program announced the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as it considers adding uterine cancer to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (List). Currently, uterine cancer is the only type of cancer not covered by the WTC Health Program.

The proposed rulemaking by the WTC Health Program recommends that all types of uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer, be added to the List. Adding uterine cancer to the List would allow the WTC Health Program to offer treatment services to members whose uterine cancers are certified as WTC-related.

“We know that WTC Health Program members continue to face health challenges that stem from their exposures on or in the months after 9/11,” said John Howard, M.D., administrator of the WTC Health Program and director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. “The proposed rule published today in the Federal Register is the next step toward ensuring women who are enrolled in the WTC Health Program have access to the cancer care and treatment they need if their uterine cancer is related to their 9/11 exposures.”

This proposed rule is not a final determination. After comments from the public and reviews by independent peer reviewers are received and considered, the Administrator will make a final decision about whether to add uterine cancer to the List and publish a final rule. If uterine cancer is added to the List in a final rule, the WTC Health Program can begin to certify cases of uterine cancer on or after the effective date of the final rule for members who meet the Program’s certification requirements.

The proposed rule is available in the Federal Register for public review and comment for 45 days beginning May 10, 2022. The deadline for submitting comments is June 24, 2022. Comments may be submitted online (Search for CDC-2022-0052 and follow the instructions for submitting comments). Written submissions may be addressed to: NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998.

For more information on the process for adding new conditions to the current List, visit the Policies and Procedures section of the WTC Health Program website.

The WTC Health Program is a limited federal health program administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Program provides no-cost medical monitoring and treatment for certified WTC-related health conditions to those directly affected by the 9/11 attacks in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and is authorized through 2090.