The Massachusetts House unanimously passed a bill guaranteeing firefighters free cancer screenings with no copays, no deductibles, no out-of-pocket costs. Firefighters face constant exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and carcinogens on the job — and occupational cancer is a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths. The new bill covers:
- Free screenings starting within 3 years of employment, then at least every 3 years
- Covers lung, colon, bladder, skin, blood, breast, cervical, prostate, and other cancers linked to the job
- Applies to full-time firefighters at cities, towns, Massport, the Barnes Air National Guard Base, and more
The bill is a huge step toward protecting the people who protect us; it comes after other efforts were passed in the Legislature, like banning PFAS chemicals in firefighting turnout gear. The bill now heads to the State Senate for further consideration.
