CARD, in Libby, Montana, is Closing on August 31, 2026
The Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Montana, will cease operations on August 31, 2026, ending 25 years of care for a community still struggling with consequences of one of the worst industrial asbestos disasters in U.S. history. The clinic will close after losing its federal grant, leaving more than 500 patients a year without access to free asbestos and lung cancer screenings and ending a research program that contributed to more than 150 scientific papers. Libby’s vermiculite mining contaminated the city for decades, sickening thousands of residents and killing hundreds. CARD, which currently has 16 employees, first opened in 2000 to provide screenings, diagnoses, and specialized long-term management of asbestos-related diseases.
Vermiculite mining in Libby began in 1919, and the asbestos contamination it left behind forever changed the community. When W.R. Grace & Company took over the mine in 1963, it knew the vermiculite was contaminated and that asbestos exposure caused serious health problems, but it did not warn workers or residents. The company even distributed leftover vermiculite for use in playgrounds, backyards, gardens, and driveways across town, putting children and families in direct contact with asbestos. Mining continued until 1990, and the health consequences continue today. A study in Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology found an estimated 694 Libby residents had died of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer. The same study found a 15-fold increased risk of mesothelioma among W.R. Grace workers compared to residents who did not work near the mine.
At least one in ten people in Libby currently have an asbestos-related illness. Approximately 2,400 residents have received an asbestos-related disease diagnosis since the contamination began. CARD directly assisted people in qualifying for specialized Medicare benefits and a Medicare pilot program designed for asbestos-related diseases. This allowed them to begin treatment earlier, which significantly improves outcomes. The clinic also built research partnerships with universities and government agencies that helped shape the country’s understanding of asbestos-related diseases.
CARD received what it understood to be a 5-year grant from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in August 2024. The agency notified the clinic in June 2026 that it would not continue funding beyond the current budget year ending August 31, with no further explanation. A 2023 Jury verdict found CARD had filed 337 false Medicare claims, resulting in nearly $6 million in fines and penalties. BNSF Railway, which won a share of that judgment, persuaded a county court to seize nearly all of CARD’s assets, including its building, before the U.S. Attorney’s office intervened and moved the case to federal court. General Star Indemnity Company, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, filed a separate suit alleging CARD misrepresented its application for a medical malpractice insurance policy. A lawsuit filed in Lincoln County District Court in October 2024 alleges there was medical malpractice, wrongful death, and the disabling of residents through opioid prescriptions following disputed diagnoses. That suit remains pending. The asset seizure significantly affected the clinic’s operations and created unresolved issues with federally funded assets.
CARD will continue grant-funded services through August 31, 2026, including asbestos health screening, lung cancer screening, case management, outreach, and education. Patients who still need a screening or have questions should contact the clinic now. Acting now gives patients the best chance of maintaining continuity of care through the transition. It is recommended to contact CARD now to schedule any remaining screenings before August 31. Request your medical records from CARD as soon as possible, as records will not remain accessible after closure. Try to find a specialist who can provide ongoing asbestos-related disease care and monitoring, particularly if you previously relied on CARD’s long-distance screening services.
Finally, find out whether your diagnosis qualifies you for asbestos-related Medicare benefits. The CDC has issued a contract opportunity for a new Asbestos Screening, Innovation, and Transition program in Libby, but no replacement for CARD’s services in in place yet. Patients should not wait for a new program before taking steps to protect their care. If and when it launches, the program would shift from a grant-funded clinic model to a federal contract structure focused on data analytics and predictive modeling, with an anticipated budget of $3 to $4 million annually.
Are you suffering from an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma or lung cancer after working with asbestos? Contact us today to see if you could be entitled to compensation. Call 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you to review your case.
