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H 1230

An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Arciero and 67 co-sponsors

Public employers must fund regular, no-cost cancer screenings for full-time firefighters (every 3 years after hire) through the employer's health plan.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4946
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Bill Summary · H 1230

Summary: H.1230 - An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

Overview

H.1230 proposes to require public employers to ensure access to cancer screening examinations for full-time firefighters, funded through the firefighter’s own health care benefits plan or program provided by the employer. The bill sets minimal screening intervals, specifies the cancers to be screened, and prohibits any out-of-pocket costs for the firefighter.

Purpose and Intent

  • Promote early detection of cancer among firefighters by guaranteeing access to regular, employer-funded cancer screening.
  • Eliminate cost barriers (no copays, deductibles, coinsurance, or other out-of-pocket expenses) for screenings conducted under the program.
  • Extend coverage to a defined set of fire departments and fire districts within the Commonwealth, including certain military/reservation-based fire departments.

Key Provisions

  • Eligibility and scope:
    • Applies to a firefighter who is a full-time paid employee of a city, town, state, or district fire department.
    • Includes members of:
    • Massachusetts military reservation fire department
    • Members of the 104th Fighter Wing fire department
    • Members of the Devens Fire Department (as established by ch. 498 of the acts of 1993)
    • Fire districts such as the Massachusetts Port Authority, Massachusetts Military Reservation, Barnes Air National Guard Base, and the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone (as referenced for fire district purposes)
  • Screening frequency:
    • A cancer screening examination must be provided not less than three years after the firefighter’s start of employment and then every three years thereafter during the course of employment.
  • Screening content:
    • Examinations shall include screening for cancers at minimum as applicable: Colon, Lung, Bladder, Oral, Thyroid, Skin, Blood, Breast, Cervical, Testicular, and Prostate.
    • The phrase “when applicable” acknowledges that screening relevance may vary by age, gender, risk factors, or other guidelines.
  • Cost and administration:
    • All costs of the screenings must be borne by the firefighter’s health care benefits plan or program provided by the firefighter’s employer.
    • No copayment, deductible, coinsurance, or other out-of-pocket expense shall be required for these examinations.

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Beneficiaries: Full-time firefighters employed by state or municipal fire departments (and related fire districts described in the bill’s scope).
  • Employers: Public employers sponsoring firefighter health plans or programs must cover the screenings under the terms described.
  • Coverage expansion: The bill explicitly enumerates certain fire departments/districts that would be included under its application.

Procedural Timeline and Status

  • Introduction and filing:
    • Introduced/referred: February 27, 2025 (House, No. 1230 by Rep. Lawn and cosponsors; referred to Financial Services)
  • Legislative actions:
    • Hearing scheduled: September 17, 2025, from 12:30 PM–4:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium
    • Senate concurrence noted in actions listed (indicates cross-chamber consideration)
  • Related measures:
    • Similar matter previously filed as H.1080 in 2023-2024 sessions

Impact and Considerations

  • Public health: Potential for earlier cancer detection among firefighters, possibly improving outcomes and long-term health costs.
  • Fiscal impact: Costs must be borne by public employer health plans for covered screenings; employers may experience changes in plan design or premium considerations.
  • Administrative: Implementation would require coordination with existing firefighter health plans to ensure no-cost screening benefits and adherence to the specified screening intervals.

Note: This summary reflects the bill as filed (H.1230, 2025) and the accompanying text. For practical implementation, fiscal analyses and detailed regulatory language would be developed during committee review.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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