BILL NUMBER: S6749
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to insurance coverage of
comprehensive annual medical examinations for firefighters
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation amends the insurance law to mandate that insurance
policies for firefighters include a number of screenings and early
detection tests due to their increased risk for cancer and cancer-relat-
ed disease.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The legislation would amend subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insur-
ance law, subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law, and
section 4303 of the insurance law to require that every policy that
provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive coverage for
firefighters includes:
1. Detailed Symptom Health History: headaches, skin rashes, intestinal
or respiratory symptoms, weakness, and cognitive dysfunction.
2. Physical Exam: a complete hand-on head-to-toe physical should be
performed. The main systems that should be reviewed are cardiovascular,
skin, thyroid, mouth, pulmonary, intestinal, breast, testes, urinary,
lymph nodes, neurological, and musculoskeletal.
3. Vital signs and body measures: blood pressure, oxygen saturation
(pOx), heart and respiratory rate, weight, height, body fat percentage
should be tested and recorded.
4. Laboratory assessments including:
a. Blood tests- CMP, CBC with differential, lipid panel, TSH, hCRP,
and HbAlc.
b. Urinalysis for pH, glucose, ketones, protein, blood, and bilirubin,
and microscopic assessment for WBC, RBC, WBC casts, RBC casts, and crys-
tals.
c. Serum and urine immunofixation
d. Urinalysis and CMP to detect early changes in kidney and bladder
function.
e. Spirometry provides a baseline and annual pulmonary function test-
ing.
5. Cancer Screenings including: digital rectal exam for men with pros-
tate-specific antigen (PSA); cervical exam with PAP and breast exam for
women; FIT testing.
6. Colonoscopy at 45 years or earlier depending on family history.
7. Mammogram at 40 or earlier depending on family history.
8. Low Dose CT: depending on age, smoking history, FEV I, family
history of lung cancer, obstructive lung disease, history of pneumonia.
9. Chest x-ray every 5 years.
10. Stress EKG with V02 value calculated.
11. Any additional illnesses as determined necessary by the Commissioner
of Health Section four establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would require that insurance policies for firefighters include
a number of screenings and early detection tests due to their increased
risk for cancer and cancer-related disease. It is known that firefight-
ers face unique occupational health risks in the line of duty. Years of
research have shown that the health risks for firefighters are multifac-
torial and include exposures from several aspects of their work environ-
ment. Firefighters are not only at higher risk for cancers but also
cardiac-related death and coronary artery disease.
Chronic exposures to heat, smoke, and toxic flame retardants through
inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption put firefighters at risk for
many cancers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) performed a multi-year study of nearly 30,000 firefighters to
better understand the potential link between firefighting and cancer.
Exposure to aerosolized chemicals like benzene, asbestos, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), formaldehyde, diesel exhaust, and new
building materials with undefined chemicals creates special risks. The
firefighters studied showed higher rates of certain types of cancer than
the general U.S. population.
In a study conducted by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in
Buffalo, in coordination with 100 firefighter participants from 2 fire-
houses, the research found that even in fires with low smoke intensity,
firefighters were just as exposed to appreciable levels of toxic materi-
als. Exposure included carbon monoxide, benzene, aldehydes, and hydrogen
cyanide Exposure to these chemicals and/or any number of carcinogenic
substances puts firefighters at elevated risk for diseases less common
among other professions. This legislation would mandate insurance compa-
nies to pay for a wide variety of screenings and tests at these younger
ages for firefighters due to their increased risks. This legislation
will save the lives of firefighters throughout New York State.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S .3942B/A. 8230A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S6749: 3216 insurance law, 3216(i) insurance law, 3221 insurance law, 3221(l) insurance law, 4303 insurance law