Re: $450,000 added into ‘sick’ building fund

[Guest guest]

Aw shucks! I was hoping to open this email to see that someone has

finally made a major contribution to KC for benevolently running Sickbuildings

for so long.

Sharon K.

In a message dated 1/13/2010 6:21:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

tigerpaw2c@... writes:

$450,000 added into `sick' building fund

NEAL P. GOSWAMI

Posted: 01/12/2010 10:55:22 PM EST

Bennington, VT

_http://www.benningthttp://wwhttp://www.benn_

(http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_14176257)

BENNINGTON -- A state official told lawmakers Tuesday that $450,000 is

needed to help pay for medical and lost wage claims filed by state employees

who contracted a rare disease in the now closed Bennington state office

building.

Buildings and General Services Commissioner Gerald Myers briefed members

of the House Corrections and Institutions Committee on the fund that pays

for the claims of six state workers who contracted the sarcoidosis while

working in the Bennington office complex.

" It's just a matter of replenishing the fund, " Myers said.

New treatments?

Rep. Browning, D-Arlington, a member of the committee, said

lawmakers learned Tuesday that at least four individuals with sarcoidosis may

seek new, experimental treatments that the state must cover.

" How much it's going to cost depends on the claims that they put forward

that are certified as valid, " Browning said. " We really made a commitment to

try and care for these employees, and we have to honor that, " she said.

The $450,000 will be part of the annual mid-year budget adjustment.

Because the sarcoidosis fund does not have a dedicated funding source,

lawmakers

must approve requests each year from the general fund.

" There's not a pot of $10 million sitting somewhere that I just draw

down, " Myers said.

The final decision to appropriate the funds belongs is the responsibility

of the House Appropriations Committee, but House Corrections and

Institutions Committee members are supportive, Browning said.

Myers said the state has spent a total of about $600,000 on claims since

the fund was created. Payments for claims will continue to be paid " until

there's a medical end, " he said.

" You just keep making sure that you're taking care of the benefits of the

claimants, " Myers said.

The fund was established in 2007 to provide benefits to the six workers

diagnosed with sarcoidosis in lieu of regular workers' compensation. Typical

workers' compensation benefits would have been difficult to obtain because

there is no known cause of the disease.

Contact Neal P. Goswami at _ngoswami@benningtonngoswami@b_

(mailto:ngoswami@...)

Sharon Noonan Kramer

[Guest guest]

I agree, Sharon. If anybody deserves it, it's KC!

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Aw shucks! I was hoping to open this email to see that someone has

finally made a major contribution to KC for benevolently running

Sickbuildings

for so long.

Sharon K.

In a message dated 1/13/2010 6:21:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

tigerpaw2c@... writes:

$450,000 added into `sick' building fund

NEAL P. GOSWAMI

Posted: 01/12/2010 10:55:22 PM EST

Bennington, VT

_http://www.benningt http://wwhttp://www.benn_

(http://www.benningt onbanner.com/ci_14176257)

BENNINGTON -- A state official told lawmakers Tuesday that $450,000

is

needed to help pay for medical and lost wage claims filed by state

employees

who contracted a rare disease in the now closed Bennington state office

building.

Buildings and General Services Commissioner Gerald Myers briefed

members

of the House Corrections and Institutions Committee on the fund that

pays

for the claims of six state workers who contracted the sarcoidosis while

working in the Bennington office complex.

" It's just a matter of replenishing the fund, " Myers said.

New treatments?

Rep. Browning, D-Arlington, a member of the committee, said

lawmakers learned Tuesday that at least four individuals with

sarcoidosis may

seek new, experimental treatments that the state must cover.

" How much it's going to cost depends on the claims that they put

forward

that are certified as valid, " Browning said. " We really made a

commitment to

try and care for these employees, and we have to honor that, " she said.

The $450,000 will be part of the annual mid-year budget adjustment.

Because the sarcoidosis fund does not have a dedicated funding source,

lawmakers

must approve requests each year from the general fund.

" There's not a pot of $10 million sitting somewhere that I just draw

down, " Myers said.

The final decision to appropriate the funds belongs is the responsibility

of the House Appropriations Committee, but House Corrections and

Institutions Committee members are supportive, Browning said.

Myers said the state has spent a total of about $600,000 on claims since

the fund was created. Payments for claims will continue to be paid " until

there's a medical end, " he said.

" You just keep making sure that you're taking care of the benefits of the

claimants, " Myers said.

The fund was established in 2007 to provide benefits to the six workers

diagnosed with sarcoidosis in lieu of regular workers' compensation.

Typical

workers' compensation benefits would have been difficult to obtain

because

there is no known cause of the disease.

Contact Neal P. Goswami at _ngoswami@benningtonngoswami@b_

(mailto:ngoswami@...)

Sharon Noonan Kramer

[Guest guest]

yep, good guy and pretty smart too.

>

> I agree, Sharon. If anybody deserves it, it's KC!

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> Aw shucks! I was hoping to open this email to see that someone has

> finally made a major contribution to KC for benevolently running

> Sickbuildings

> for so long.

>

> Sharon K.

>

> In a message dated 1/13/2010 6:21:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> tigerpaw2c@... writes:

>

> $450,000 added into `sick' building fund

> NEAL P. GOSWAMI

> Posted: 01/12/2010 10:55:22 PM EST

> Bennington, VT

>

> _http://www.benningt http://wwhttp://www.benn_

> (http://www.benningt onbanner.com/ci_14176257)

>

> BENNINGTON -- A state official told lawmakers Tuesday that $450,000

> is

> needed to help pay for medical and lost wage claims filed by state

> employees

> who contracted a rare disease in the now closed Bennington state office

> building.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone. I don't want to take all the credit,but Barb has been a great

help for the last year or so.

With funds like that you could do allot with. Helping those who are less

fortunate, get to the phycisian of there choice.

That's always been my dream.

I'm so envious of Ty Pennington helping these families that have been affected

by WDB. The joy it must bring to his heart.It must feel great to participate in

something like that.

Chokes me up.

KC

> >

> > I agree, Sharon. If anybody deserves it, it's KC!

> >

> > Carl Grimes

> > Healthy Habitats LLC

> >

> > -----

> > Aw shucks! I was hoping to open this email to see that someone has

> > finally made a major contribution to KC for benevolently running

> > Sickbuildings

> > for so long.

> >

> > Sharon K.

> >

> > In a message dated 1/13/2010 6:21:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> > tigerpaw2c@ writes:

> >

> > $450,000 added into `sick' building fund

> > NEAL P. GOSWAMI

> > Posted: 01/12/2010 10:55:22 PM EST

> > Bennington, VT

> >

> > _http://www.benningt http://wwhttp://www.benn_

> > (http://www.benningt onbanner.com/ci_14176257)

> >

> > BENNINGTON -- A state official told lawmakers Tuesday that $450,000

> > is

> > needed to help pay for medical and lost wage claims filed by state

> > employees

> > who contracted a rare disease in the now closed Bennington state office

> > building.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Barb and KC.

>

> Thanks everyone. I don't want to take all the credit,but Barb has been a great

help for the last year or so.

>

> With funds like that you could do allot with. Helping those who are less

fortunate, get to the phycisian of there choice.

>

> That's always been my dream.

>

> I'm so envious of Ty Pennington helping these families that have been affected

by WDB. The joy it must bring to his heart.It must feel great to participate in

something like that.

>

> Chokes me up.

>

>

>

> KC