Ask the Experts

With Melissa Byrd, Atomic Heroes Alliance Program Coordinator

My name is Melissa Byrd and over the past three years in my time with Nuclear Care Partners I’ve had the great opportunity to talk with former atomic and uranium workers across the nation. I’m part of a team that reaches out to former atomic workers to check in on how they’re doing, help schedule appointments with their local Community Outreach Managers, answer any questions they may have, and simply see if there’s anything we can do to help them!

Over the years, and in many of my conversations, I’ve noticed two distinct areas most aren’t aware of: free medical screenings and the value of home health care.

Benefits of EEOICPA #1: Free Health Screenings

One of the benefits of the EEOICPA are the free screenings which allow former workers to continue to monitor their health every three years for possible issues that may arise years, even decades after employment.

These screenings focus on the early detection of health conditions that may be related to occupational exposures such as beryllium, asbestos, radiation, silica, etc. Medical screenings include a physical exam, hearing test, blood and urine tests, and other special tests depending on the individual’s work and exposure history.

These no-cost medical screenings are available to all former DOE Federal, contractor, and subcontractor employees. An occupational medicine physician, independent of DOE, will review the exam results and provide a written results letter. If a potentially work-related illness is identified, the screening exam results letter may be used to support an EEOICPA claim. Re-screen exams are offered every three years.

Benefits of EEOICPA #2: Home Health Care

One of the main medical benefits of the EEOICPA is home health care. More often than not I hear great hesitation in signing on for care, with many former workers telling me they aren’t ready for home health.

A piece of advice I’d like to share is that this benefit is for every stage of your disease. We work together with you and your doctor to make sure that you receive the right amount of care for the stage you are in.

The care your doctor prescribes is based on your disease and how quickly it is progressing. Most diseases progress slowly and you might not notice how hard your activities of daily living have become. I often tell people they may not realize how much help they need until they have it and wonder how they ever coped without it.

If you’d like to learn more about the free health screenings or the home health benefits that may be available to you, give us a call at 888.525.5111.

If you’d like to learn more about the free health screenings or the home health benefits that may be available to you, give us a call at 888.525.5111.

To read this full article in our Fall 2021 edition of Atomic Health News, click here.