Libby’s Lifeline Cut: Asbestos Clinic Closure Leaves Montana Town Facing a Health Crisis
The Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) clinic in Libby, Montana, a vital resource providing free lung screenings to residents impacted by decades of asbestos exposure, abruptly closed its doors in May, leaving a community already grappling with disproportionately high rates of asbestos-related illness facing an uncertain future.
For decades, Libby has been synonymous with asbestos contamination. The town’s history is inextricably linked to a vermiculite mine that, for much of the 20th century, supplied a significant portion of the world’s supply of the mineral used in insulation and other products. However, the vermiculite was heavily contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. The consequences have been devastating.
Gayla Benefield, 81, is one of countless Libby residents whose life has been irrevocably altered by asbestos exposure. “Eventually, that scarring will fully surround your lungs,” Benefield explained, describing the progression of asbestosis, “and slowly strangle you.” Benefield’s father worked at the mine, unknowingly bringing the deadly fibers home with him, exposing his entire family. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated parts of Libby a Superfund site in 2002, and in 2009, declared a public health emergency – a first in U.S. history. A study revealed that 694 Libby residents died from asbestos-related causes between 1979 and 2011, and current estimates suggest that 1 in 10 residents now lives with an asbestos-related illness.
CARD clinic was established to address this crisis, providing crucial diagnostic services to over 8,900 people, funded primarily through U.S. government grants. The clinic screened nearly a third of its patients for new diagnoses, recognizing that asbestos-related diseases can take decades to manifest. But now, that care is unavailable, the result of a complex legal battle initiated by BNSF Railway.
BNSF, the railroad company that transported the contaminated vermiculite, used a whistleblower law to sue CARD on behalf of the federal government, alleging fraud in the clinic’s Medicare claims. A jury sided with BNSF, claiming CARD falsified records for over 300 patients. CARD officials maintain that while patients may not have had a formal asbestos diagnosis, they were eligible for Medicare benefits based on abnormal radiology readings. The railroad is now attempting to seize CARD’s assets – including the clinic building and even a lawn mower – to collect roughly $2.9 million in court judgments and attorney fees.
The federal government is actively defending CARD, arguing in court that the clinic’s property was largely purchased with federal grant funding and therefore cannot be seized. The case has moved to federal court, with a ruling expected soon.
However, the lawsuit is only one threat to CARD’s survival. The clinic relies on an $3 million annual federal grant, which was briefly frozen by the Trump administration as part of a broader review of grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. While the grant was later reinstated, uncertainty remains, as White House officials have indicated they may continue to review it for potential cuts. According to Tracy McNew, CARD’s executive director, losing this funding would likely force the clinic to close permanently.
The situation highlights the challenges of providing specialized care in rural communities. “Most physicians would be modestly clueless about what to look for,” explained Robert Kratzke, an oncologist at the University of Minnesota specializing in asbestos-related cancers. Diagnosing these diseases requires specific expertise and specialized “B readers” to interpret X-rays and CT scans accurately. Rebuilding this expertise in a small town like Libby would be exceptionally difficult.
For residents like Jenan Swenson, the clinic’s closure is deeply concerning. Swenson, whose mother is a caregiver, received a clean bill of health in a screening just days before the clinic shuttered. However, she anticipates developing asbestos-related issues herself, given her childhood exposure. “There’s going to probably be a lot of people just lost out there with no place to go,” Swenson said, fearing that many will be unable to afford to travel out of state for the necessary screenings and treatment.
The future of CARD clinic, and the health of Libby, Montana, hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of asbestos and the critical need for continued support for communities grappling with its devastating consequences.
