On February 4, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson testified before the Finance Committee in support of SB 374 – Health Insurance – Cancer Screenings for Professional Firefighters – Required Coverage (James “Jimmy” Malone Act) with amendments.
This bill requires counties that employ career firefighters to provide coverage for preventive cancer screenings with no cost-sharing requirements such as copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles..
Many counties already provide firefighter cancer screenings, often relying on grant programs due to budget limitations. While the bill’s requirements align with aspirational practices, not every county program currently meets the precise mandates outlined. If implemented as drafted, individual affected counties estimate a $1 million fiscal impact, which would strain local budgets without additional State assistance. Counties urge the State to make this policy a funded mandate, rather than unfunded.
MACo appreciates the State’s commitment to firefighter cancer screenings and supports efforts to expand access to these critical health services. To ensure successful implementation, MACo encourages the State to provide dedicated funding, allowing counties to administer the program as prescribed, without copayments for participants.
SB 374’s cross-file, HB 459, was heard on February 6 in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Karrington Anderson testified in support of this bill with amendments.
SB 374 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Health and Government Operations Committee, on March 27. MACo submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
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