This bill mandates that cancer screenings be provided to firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs offered by public employers. It amends several chapters of the General Laws, specifically Chapter 32A, Chapter 48, Chapter 175, Chapter 176A, Chapter 176B, and Chapter 176G, to ensure that eligible enrollees, including full-time firefighters and members of specific fire departments, receive cancer screening examinations without any co-payment, deductible, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket expenses. However, it allows for cost-sharing if the plan is governed by the federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status due to the prohibition on cost-sharing for these services.

The bill outlines that cancer screenings must occur at least every three years after a firefighter's employment begins and specifies the types of cancers that should be screened, including colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular, and prostate cancers. All costs associated with these screenings will be covered by the firefighters' health care benefits plans or programs provided by their employers. This legislation aims to enhance the health and safety of firefighters by ensuring they have access to necessary cancer screenings as part of their employment benefits.