Albany, New York – Yesterday, June 18^th, bill A.3593-A was passed through the Assembly Chamber. The bill, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway), increases the number of alternate physicians who may be appointed to serve as the medical board of the NYC Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS).

Under the current law, appointing authorities cannot appoint physicians with enough specialties to meet the current needs of NYCERS members, many of whom apply for multiple claimed conditions resulting from exposure during World Trade Center (WTC) rescue, recovery and clean up (e.g., pulmonary, cancer, PTSD, etc.). As it stands currently, each Medical Board must consist of one physician from each of the three appointing authorities or agencies therefore leading to the possibility of not serving the many applicants who apply for multiple claimed conditions due to the lack of specialist on the Medical Review Board.

The changes provided by the bill would allow an applicant to be examined by a Medical Board consisting of physicians whose qualifications best meet the needs of the specific applicant. For example, if an applicant's claimed disability involves issues with the heart, as well as cancer, under this proposed legislation the applicant could be examined by a Medical Board that includes a cardiologist and an oncologist, regardless of what authority appointed them.

“This bill is a common-sense measure that will have an enormous impact. By requiring additional availability of physicians and more flexible parameters in appointing a panel, it speeds the entire process of scheduling appointments, and overall processing of applicants,” Pheffer Amato said. “I want to thank Oren Barzilay, the entire Uniformed EMT's, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors Union, Henry Garrido from DC 37, and John Feal from the FealGood Foundation for bringing this critical issue to my attention and for their continued advocacy on behalf of those suffering with 9/11 related illnesses. While there nothing we can do to ever repay the heroes who risked their lives on September 11^th, 2001, this bill seeks to simplify the entire process and provide the right kind of healthcare for those individuals struggling with a 9/11 related condition.”

“The passage of this long overdue bill to fix the issues that has plagued NYCERS which in turn negatively impacted our members is a sign of hope that positive changes are going to happen at NYCERS,” Oren Barzilay, President of Local 2507, Uniformed EMT's, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors, said. “On behalf of the EMT's, Paramedics and Fire Inspectors of FDNY EMS local 2507, we want to thank Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, she took her time to listen to our concerns and take on this challenge with no hesitation.”

“Today our heroic 9/11 rescue and recovery workers breathe a sigh of relief because of this important step taken by the State legislature. The NYCERS Medical Board Expansion bill will help end the long waiting periods that these workers have had to endure for review of their disability pension applications,” Henry A. Garrido is the Executive Director of District Council 37, AFSCME said. “We thank the bill’s sponsors, Assemblymember Pheffer Amato and Senator Gounardes, as well as, Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Cousins and the members of the State legislature for coming through for our 9/11 heroes.”

“On behalf of the FealGood Foundation & the 9/11 Community, I want to personally thank Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato for championing this common sense piece of legislation that will fulfill a promise we made years ago to never forget and continue to close all outstanding issues and obstacles we face every day in the 9/11 community,” John Feal, Founder/ President/Chairman of the FealGood Foundation, said.

The bill was passed through the Senate Chambers by Senator Andrew Gounardes on the same day and will be sent to the Governor for his signature.