As of June 24, the New York State Workers Compensation Board will no longer handle benefit applications to the World Trade Center Volunteer Fund, whichw as established to handle claims made by those who sustained injuries while responding to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center.

The Board is shifting management of the Fund to the Triad Group as part of a larger effort to shift all claims management to professional third party administrators. The Board will pay the TPA costs directly from its own budget so that all of the WTC Volunteer Fund is available to pay for medical and indemnity benefits for the volunteers. All claimants who have active WTC Volunteer claims, their health care providers, and their legal representatives will receive written notice about the change in claim administrator. Additional information is available at WTC Volunteer Fund Overview.

The transition of claim management should have no impact on WTC volunteers receiving Fund benefits. Claimants will continue receiving their biweekly indemnity benefits on the same schedule in place today. While health providers should begin sending new medical reports and bills to the Triad Group for services provided after June 24, they will continue to operate under the same flexible rules that have governed the WTC Volunteer Fund since its creation. Volunteers with new claims should continue submitting them directly to the Board. The Triad Group will assume responsibility for the claim only after the Board determines the claimant is eligible for the Fund.

The Triad Group has designated a WTC administrator, Gretchen Finch, to address any issues that arise during the transition. Gretchen will serve as the claimants' and providers' first point of contact for all claim administration issues. She can be reached via email at gfinch@triadgate.comand/or by phone at 1-800-337-7419 extension 112. Documents, including medical reports and bills, should be sent to her c/o Triad Group, LLC; 185 Jordan Road, Troy, NY 12180 or by fax to 1-866-617-7585. She will have direct access to Board staff to address individual questions or problems as they arise.

In the meantime, NY WCB Chair Robert Beloten strongly encourages World Trade Center claimants to apply for benefits under the WTC Health Program.

Special Reports /

New York State to Outsource World Trade Center Claims Handling

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