Tell President Biden to Make Medicare Available for Victims of Norfolk Southern Derailment
On the night of February 3, 2023, East Palestine, Ohio experienced a catastrophic train derailment. At least twenty of the derailed cars contained hazardous materials, a number of which caught fire and burned for days in the very backyards of some East Palestine residents. Some of the railcars spilled their loads of hazardous materials into a ditch next to the train tracks, which empties into the Ohio River.
Since the derailment, East Palestine residents have continued to report medical issues and they rightfully fear that their air and water are contaminated. Exposure to the chemicals released, such as vinyl chloride, have been known to cause conditions as serious as neurological issues and liver cancer. Vinyl chloride exposure might also cause fertility problems and can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
East Palestine residents suffering negative health effects from exposure to the preventable Norfolk Southern chemical releases should not have to bear the related health care costs. Fortunately, there is a way the federal government can help.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Joe Biden’s administration can grant Medicare coverage to the victims of the release of certain public health hazards, including vinyl chloride. But for that to happen, President Biden needs to declare a public health emergency in the area, and the Secretary of Health must determine that any health conditions were caused by the release. Given the negative health effects already reported, there can be little doubt that the residents of East Palestine qualify for Medicare coverage under the ACA.