Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

PRINTER'S NO.   1634
                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                         SENATE BILL
                         No. 1204
                                                 Session of
                                                   2024
     INTRODUCED BY FARRY, PENNYCUICK, DILLON, SANTARSIERO, SCHWANK,
        KANE, BREWSTER, MILLER, ROBINSON AND TARTAGLIONE,
        MAY 28, 2024
     REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
        MAY 28, 2024
                                      AN ACT
 Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
    Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating
    to emergency management services, providing for health
    screenings for firefighters and EMS providers.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 hereby enacts as follows:
    Section 1.     Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 § 7715.    Health screenings for firefighters and EMS providers.
    (a)    General rule.--A firefighter or EMS provider employed as
 a full-time paid employee of a fire department or a political
 subdivision shall have a cancer and cardiovascular health
 screening exam conducted by a physician no less than once every
 three years during the course of the firefighter's or EMS
 provider's employment. Where applicable, a health screening
 under this section shall include, at a minimum:
           (1)   Screenings for the following cancers and
    cardiovascular conditions:
                (i)    Liver.
                (ii)    Gallbladder.
                (iii)    Kidney.
                (iv)    Spleen.
                (v)    Urinary bladder and prostate.
                (vi)    Abdominal aorta.
                (vii)    Testicle and scrotal.
                (viii)    Pelvic, uterus and ovary external scan.
                (ix)    Thyroid.
                (x)    Carotid.
                (xi)    Colon.
                (xii)    Lung.
                (xiii)    Skin.
          (2)   An echocardiogram.
          (3)   For a male, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
    screening.
          (4)   For a female, a human papillomavirus (HPV)
    screening.
    (b)   Cost of health screenings.--All costs associated with a
 health screening under this section shall be covered by a health
 care benefits plan included with the firefighter's or EMS
 provider's employment, an insurance fund, joint insurance fund
 or other manner. An employer shall cover the cost of a
 copayment, deductible, coinsurance or employee out-of-pocket
 expense for a health screening under this section.
    (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
    "Emergency medical services provider" or "EMS provider."        Any
 of the following:
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      (1)     An emergency medical responder.
      (2)     An emergency medical technician.
      (3)     An advanced emergency medical technician.
      (4)     A paramedic.
      (5)     A prehospital registered nurse.
      (6)     A prehospital physician extender.
      (7)     A prehospital emergency medical services physician.
      (8)     An individual prescribed by regulation of the
  Department of Health to provide specialized emergency medical
  services.
  Section 2.    This act shall take effect immediately.
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