Public employers would cover regular cancer screenings for eligible firefighters

Covered firefighters would receive cancer screenings performed by a doctor. Coverage includes full-time paid state, city, town, and fire or water district firefighters, including Massachusetts Port Authority firefighters, plus members of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, 104th Fighter Wing, and Devens fire departments. Screenings would cover a range of cancers when applicable, including lung, skin, and breast cancer. The first screening would occur at least three years after employment begins, with screenings every three years afterward during employment.

Employer health plans would pay screening costs, generally without charging covered firefighters. Coverage rules apply across state employee plans and several types of private health plans. Plans would require patient payments if banning them would cause the plan to lose its federal tax-exempt status. The requirement for medical-service agreements excludes coverage that supplements Medicare or other government programs. For medical-service agreements, the requirement applies to coverage delivered, issued, or renewed in Massachusetts.