The new federally funded healthcare initiative targeting people with asbestos-related illnesses in Libby, Montana has begun, and locals have generally responded positively. The $6 million grant that made the initiative possible came from the federal government.

To date, hundreds of residents from Libby and the surrounding areas have died from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, and thousands more are ill. The source of these illnesses is a former mine that produced asbestos-tainted vermiculite.

Pam Roll, a resident of Libby for three decades, says she has personally seen many people struggle with asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that can kill within months of being diagnosed. "When you grow up here, you know pretty much everybody here… so yeah, I’ve seen a few of them, my father included."

She plans to get screened for asbestos-related diseases, now that the grant money has made free screenings possible. Getting screened is expensive, often costing thousands of dollars.

"My parents lived here most of their life. I have a brother who lives here. My husband also and a daughter, so we all get screened regularly…hopefully everybody will get on the bandwagon and start coming in and getting screened more often."

Federal Libby Asbestos Specialty Healthcare Manager Kaiellen Bucher says, "I think this is crucial to the people of Libby. We’ve had some benefits for them through different funding opportunities but this is the most comprehensive health plan that they’ve had so far…I think there is a huge sense of relief that there is some hope and that there is a plan for their health care in the future."

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