The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center Urges Libby, Montana Residents To Take Advantage of Final Days Of Free Health Screenings

The free health surveillance program that has been in place in Libby, Montana since 2003 will no longer be providing free health testing for residents after the end of this week. The program, which was funded by Center for Disease Control (CDC) grants, has exhausted all funding and will no longer be able to cover the screenings. The program was implemented after concerns arose regarding asbestos contamination caused by the former W.R. Grace-owned vermiculite mine in Libby.

Several hundred Libby residents have developed asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, as a result of asbestos contamination from the mine. Libby was added to a Superfund list of U.S. sites that need to be decontaminated and hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by sickened residents against the now-bankrupt W.R. Grace.

The screening program, known as Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activities, or MASSA, has provided over 4,000 free tests to about 3,100 residents. A large number of residents discovered that they had asbestos-related ailments after taking advantage of the free screening program.

According to a MASSA nurse, former mine workers were screened on a regular basis. Residents age 35 and under were eligible for a free test every five years, and residents over 45 years of age could receive a free screening every two years.

“People really took advantage of the program,” said nurse Claire Evans.

Libby residents who remain concerned over the possibility of developing asbestos cancer will be able to utilize health benefits provided by the Libby Asbestos Medical Plan (LAMP) that will cover screenings and diagnostic procedures. LAMP benefits are available to Libby residents who meet program requirements, including residency stipulations. LAMP was funded back in 2003 by W.R. Grace as part of an asbestos lawsuit settlement.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center recommends that any Libby resident who qualifies for a free screening contact MASSA before Friday, September 19^th to make arrangements for testing. LAMP representatives can also be reached at 1-877-889-8405, and the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) is also available to answer questions by calling 1-406-293-9274.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is certified by the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) as a trustworthy and reliable source of medical information on the web and contains information regarding asbestos exposure, mesothelioma cancer and mesothelioma treatment options. Please see www.maacenter.org for additional information.