Letter to Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services, Shalanda Young, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr.John Howard, Program Administrator for the World Trade Center Health Program - Reps. Sherrill, Maloney Lead Letter Calling for Prompt Inclusion of Uterine Cancer in the World Trade Center Health Program

Letter

We are writing to you today regarding the proposed rulemaking by the World Trade Center Health Program: Addition of Uterine Cancer to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (RIN 0920--AA82), for which the public comment period ended last month.

As you may know, we wrote to Dr John Howard, Program Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) on August 2, 2021 to urge a speedy decision on the inclusion of uterine cancer as a covered condition within the WTCHP. At that time, we stated:

We applaud the good work that the WTCHP continues to do for those that it serves. This work honors the lives of those impacted directly by the tragedy of 9/11. However, for the women impacted by the decision not to include uterine cancer as a certified condition, this work remains undone. The women whose lives have been affected by this disaster deserve a prompt decision in light of new evidence.

As we stated last summer, this issue deserves a prompt determination. Uterine cancer remains the only major cancer that is not covered by the program. In November 2021, after reviewing available evidence, the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) unanimously recommended that all types of uterine cancer be added to the list of WTC-related cancers.

We understand that the rulemaking process takes time, and we believe that the WTCHP has acted as quickly as possible to go through the formal review, evaluation, and determination process required for adding new conditions for coverage under the program. Now with the conclusion of the public comment period, we are again urging speed in making the final determination on adding uterine cancer to the list of covered conditions by the WTCHP.

Each of you and your departments, offices, and agencies have a role in this process, and we are urging you to finalize this decision as quickly as possible and expedite the approval process, consistent with all applicable rules and regulations.

Given the work that has been done, we hope that you will swiftly process the final determination and issue the final rule to add uterine cancer to the list of WTC-related health conditions. We look forward to working with you to address this important matter. Thank you for your fair and full consideration.

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