Senator Bailey introduces bill to expand access to preventive cancer screenings for firefighters and police officers

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On Thursday, March 13, Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, introduced a bill to expand access to preventive cancer screenings for first responders, including firefighters and police officers.

The Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, which Sen. Bailey serves as the Senate chair of, conducted a public hearing for LD 784, “An Act to Require Health Insurance Coverage for Specialized Risk Screenings for First Responders.”

As currently drafted, the bill would ensure that medical professionals consider the unique risk factors associated with the profession when recommending and conducting preventive cancer and health screenings. It would also require that insurance companies cover the costs of the screenings.

“These brave men and women put their health, lives and personal safety on the line to keep our communities protected and safe,” said Bailey. “We cannot eliminate all the risks associated with these occupations, but we can help them afford screenings and tests to detect the potentially life-changing and life-threatening medical diagnoses that they are at a higher risk for. If we take this step, we can ensure that firefighters, first responders and police officers live longer, healthier lives."

During the public hearing, Sen. Bailey shared the story – as originally reported by Norah Hogan for WMTW Channel 8 News – of Saco Fire Department Firefighter Lt. Sarai Briggs. She is a mother of three, who, knowing the elevated health risks associated with firefighting, was forced to pay out of pocket for the cost of a preventive cancer screening. Even though she had no symptoms, the test detected thyroid cancer. It is a decision that allowed her doctors to catch the cancer early. She is fortunately now cancer free. The preventative screening likely saved her life.

In that story, WMTW reported that firefighters are regularly exposed to at least 13 chemicals, including arsenic, asbestos and sulfuric acid, which cause cancer. WMTW also cited data from the American Cancer Society, which found that firefighters have a 9% higher risk for cancer compared to the general population. That risk is even higher for certain types of cancer, like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate cancer.