Sponsored by:
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Singleton and Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A volunteer firefighter serving in a fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, shall be provided a cancer screening examination conducted by a physician who participates in the State Health Benefits Program network not less than three years after the start of the firefighter's service as a volunteer firefighter and every three years thereafter during the course of the firefighter's volunteer service. The examination shall include screening for, at a minimum and when applicable, the following cancers:
(1) colon;
(2) lung;
(3) bladder;
(4) oral;
(5) thyroid;
(6) skin;
(7) blood;
(8) breast;
(9) cervical
(10) testicular; and
(11) prostate.
b. For the purpose of this subsection, service as an unpaid firefighter in any fire district with a volunteer fire department or wherein there shall exist one or more incorporated volunteer fire companies affording fire protection to the fire district, or service as an unpaid firefighter for a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, shall be a pre-existing condition.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, beginning January 1, 2025 and for each plan year thereafter, physicians who participate in the State Health Benefits Program network shall offer cancer screening examinations to volunteer firefighters consistent with the requirement of subsection a. of this section. Such physicians or other providers shall be eligible for payment from the State for the cost of providing such examinations upon proof satisfactory to the Department of the Treasury; provided, however, at no time shall the cost being remitted to the physician or other provider by the State for the full examination required under subsection a. of this section exceed $1,250 in the aggregate per three-year period for each firefighter.
No co-payment, deductible, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket expense shall be required for such examinations.
d. Any fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, that relies on services from volunteer firefighters shall maintain adequate records to facilitate the payment authorized pursuant to this section.
e. There shall be an appropriation from the State General Fund in each annual appropriations act of such funds as necessary for the purposes of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters serving in fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, without cost-sharing.
Under the bill, physicians who participate in the State Health Benefits Program network will be required to offer these periodic examinations to volunteer firefighters and then a physician or other provider may request payment from the State for the provision of services not to exceed $1,250 in the aggregate per three-year period for each firefighter. According to the bill, fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, which relies on services from volunteer firefighters must maintain adequate records to facilitate the payment.
Current law entitles paid firefighters enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program and paid firefighters eligible for enrollment in the State Health Benefits Program to periodic cancer screening examinations every three years without cost-sharing. By law, the State will reimburse public employers in an amount not to exceed $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter.
This bill extends the reimbursement provisions available to paid firefighters under current law to unpaid firefighters serving in any fire district with a volunteer fire department or wherein there exists one or more incorporated volunteer fire companies affording fire protection to the fire district, or any fire department, unit, or company of or in the State or a political subdivision of this State.