PRIVATE PHYSICIAN PROCESS

Updated: April 30, 2014

To be eligible for compensation from the VCF, the Zadroga act requires that a claimant be certified for treatment by the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program for an eligible physical condition. For claimants who participate in the WTC Health Program, the VCF is able to obtain the necessary information directly from the Health Program.

Claimants are not required to be treated by the WTC Health Program. As a result, the VCF has developed the "Private Physician" process as an alternative method for certifying a claimant's condition as eligible. Claimants should use the Private Physician process when:

• Going to the WTC Health Program for treatment and/or certification of a VCF qualified condition is not a viable option;

OR

• The claimant has been deemed eligible for some conditions certified by the WTC Health Program but seeks certification of additional qualified conditions.

The Private Physician process is simply a way for the VCF to gather the required information about your treatment by a non-WTC Health Program physician in order to process your claim. It is important that you provide the information so the VCF can work with the WTC Health Program to verify your condition is eligible. The forms are simple and can be completed by you or your physician.