Clinical Director, New Mexico Branch
For decades, the men and women of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratories, and New Mexico’s uranium mines and mills helped build the nation’s nuclear defense. They often handled radioactive and toxic materials as part of their daily work. Years later, many live with chronic lung disease, kidney conditions, and cancers linked to those exposures.
Securing care for these illnesses is a journey of its own, one that takes patience and persistence. Former workers must file claims under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), gather medical records and work histories, wait for the Department of Labor (DOL) to review claims, and, if those claims are approved, issue a White Card.
Getting that approval should mark the moment home care finally begins. Instead, some patients discover their home care company can’t fully staff their approved hours. Nurses may arrive late or not at all, and atomic workers sit on waitlists for care their White Card covers – care they need.
This scenario is playing out across New Mexico, where nearly 40,000 EEOICPA claims have been filed. After giving decades of service and enduring the illnesses it left behind, these workers deserve skilled, compassionate care that shows up as promised.
If your current provider cannot deliver the care you’re approved for, you have options.
Can You Switch Home Care Companies Without Losing Your White Card?
Yes, you can move your care to another provider. Still, plenty of patients stay with a company that isn’t meeting their needs because they’ve been scared into thinking that leaving could cost them their benefits. That worry is understandable. It just isn’t accurate.
White Card benefits come from the DOL, and the DOL states that beneficiaries can choose any licensed home health care provider that completes the DOL enrollment process. You’re free to change providers at any time with zero risk to the benefits you earned.
Who delivers your care is your call. Learn more about your rights as a White Card holder.
Your Home Care Provider Should Meet A Higher Standard
Many patients grow close to the nurses who come into their homes, and that bond matters. It also matters that patients receive evidence-based clinical care from experts who understand the complex, exposure-related conditions many former atomic workers face.
Just as important, you should feel valued. That means having a care team that listens, keeps you informed, and treats you like family.
What Should You Expect From Your Home Care Provider?
Look for a company that offers:
- Nurses trained in illnesses linked to radiation and toxic exposure
- Honest, regular updates about your schedule and care plan
- Nursing visits that happen on time and as expected
- A care plan that adjusts as your health changes
- Close coordination with your medical team to ensure proper treatment and continuity of care.
- An advocacy team that helps you get the most from your EEOICPA benefits.
If any of these are missing, you deserve better care, and you can find it.
Waitlisted for Care? You Have Options.
Waiting wears on a whole family. An unfilled shift might mean a spouse losing sleep, or a family member driving up from Albuquerque after a full workday.
If the DOL approved a specific level of care for you, that’s the care you should receive. When your home care provider places you on a waitlist, or your hours keep going unfilled, ask:
- Why aren’t my approved hours staffed?
- When will a nurse start?
- How will you cover my care until then?
A reliable company gives clear answers and a firm start date. Repeated delays or vague replies mean it’s time to explore your options.
We understand the statewide nursing shortage may be affecting your home care services. At Nuclear Care Partners, however, our New Mexico team remains fully staffed, ready and able to provide the care you’re approved for.
How Nuclear Care Partners Supports Patients Across New Mexico
When two nurses saw too many former atomic workers managing serious illnesses without the right support, they decided to build a better model of care. Fifteen years later, Nuclear Care Partners team still provides personalized, accredited clinical care nationwide. We also integrate this care with benefits advocacy, so patients, caregivers, and families never face the process alone.
What sets Nuclear Care Partners apart:
- The first DOL provider to earn national accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care
- Four care models, from light support to 24/7 nursing
- Specialized programs for chronic kidney disease and lung conditions such as COPD
- A local New Mexico team serving patients statewide
- Ethical care and business practices built on honesty, transparency, and clear communication
- The resources and commitment to follow through on promised care
A local advocate will listen to your situation, answer your questions, and explain your choices clearly. What happens next is up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care for Atomic Workers
Does the Department of Labor recommend a specific home care company?
No. The DOL states that it neither endorses nor sponsors any home health care provider. You have the right to choose the company that fits your needs.
What does switching home care companies involve?
Switching is a routine administrative update, and it doesn’t reopen a review of your medical eligibility. Nuclear Care Partners manages the transition for patients who choose to transfer their care. We will walk you through the process step by step, making it as easy and seamless as possible.
Do approved hours carry over?
Yes, atomic workers can switch to another care provider without worrying about losing DOL-approved hours. Nothing needs to be reauthorized, and Nuclear Care Partners helps each patient through the process to ensure no gaps in care.
