Pennsylvania would offer eligible firefighters cancer screenings when funded

The responsible state department would run a program that lets eligible firefighters obtain cancer screening once every three years. A firefighter must have served continuously in firefighting duties for at least 12 months, actively responded to at least 15 emergencies in the prior calendar year as verified by the fire company, and be covered by section 301(f) of the Workers’ Compensation Act. The program would operate only to the extent money is available in its fund. Screenings would be offered at least twice each year in each of Pennsylvania’s six health regions. Available screening would have to include a blood test, vital-organ ultrasound, skin cancer check, and lung CT scan when indicated. It would cover at least colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular, prostate, liver, and kidney cancers. Offered screenings could be combined up to $2,000 per person. That limit would change each January 1 based on the specified regional consumer price index described in the bill and available funds would still apply as a condition of screening types provided under the program. Firefighters could pay for additional screenings, but buying them could not be required to receive program screening. The screening provisions would take effect 60 days after enactment.

The program would use a separate State Treasury fund supported by legislative funding, grants, donations, other payments, and interest. The fund could pay for eligible firefighters’ program benefits, administration, outreach, and the annual audit. Money in the fund would be set aside for the department on a continuing basis. An independent accounting firm would audit the fund each year. The department would publish the prior fiscal year’s audit and share its link with the General Assembly. The fund provisions would take effect 60 days after enactment, and each prior fiscal year’s audit would be published by December 31.

The responsible state department could hire people or organizations to check eligibility, provide screenings, or otherwise run the program. The department could hire more than one screening provider as needed to serve every state health region. These contracts would not have to follow the state procurement code. The department would favor providers able to perform broad multi-cancer blood testing, several ultrasound checks, a heart ultrasound, and a neck-artery blood-flow test. These contracting provisions would take effect 60 days after enactment.

The department and others handling program or fund records would have to keep them confidential, except where the bill allows disclosure. The rules would cover working papers, recorded information, documents, and copies handled while carrying out program or fund duties. Covered records could not be subpoenaed, obtained through the Right-to-Know Law, used as evidence in private civil cases, or made public. The department would have to protect information that identifies a person’s health or finances under federal and state law. A firefighter’s screening health records could be shared only with the firefighter’s written consent or when required by a governing labor agreement. These confidentiality rules would take effect 60 days after enactment.