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Lawmakers react to asbestos health cuts - billingsgazette.com
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September 29, 2005Last modified September 29, 2005 - 12:35 am
Lawmakers react to asbestos health cuts
Lawmakers react to asbestos health cuts
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Members of Montana's congressional delegation recommend swift reprisal against W.R.
Grace & Co., for the pending reduction in health care compensation available to hundreds sickened by asbestos from the company's mine near Libby.
Sen.
Max Baucus, D-Mont., introduced legislation Wednesday that would require Grace, which operates under bankruptcy protection, to place $250 million in a health care trust fund for Libby victims of asbestos exposure.
Also Wednesday, Republican Rep.
Denny Rehberg of Montana asked Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to investigate HNA/Triveras, a health care administrator for Grace.
HNA/Triveras sent letters to about 700 Libby residents this month, saying they no longer have asbestos-related disease or may not be as sick as they thought.
About 200 deaths and many more cases of disease have been blamed on asbestos contamination associated with Grace's vermiculite mine, which closed in 1990.
The Libby Asbestos Medical Plan was f...
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