SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3284
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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SENATE, October 15, 2026.
The committee on Senate Ways and Means to whom was referred the House Bill mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer (House, No. 5631); reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of Senate document numbered 3284.
For the committee,
Michael J. Rodrigues
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3284
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 35. The commission shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to cost sharing including, but not limited to, co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that such cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the United States Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.
SECTION 2. Chapter 48 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 91. (a) A cancer screening examination, conducted by a physician, shall be provided to a firefighter employed as a full-time paid employee of a fire department of the commonwealth or a city, town, fire or water district. The screening shall be conducted not less than 3 years after the start of the firefighter’s employment as a firefighter and every 3 years thereafter during the course of the firefighter’s employment. This section shall apply to members of the Massachusetts military reservation fire department, members of the 104th fighter wing fire department and members of the Devens fire department; provided, however, that for purposes of this section, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the Barnes Air National Guard Base and the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone shall be fire districts.
(b) The examination required pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, but not be limited to, screening for, when applicable, colon cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, oral cancer, thyroid cancer, skin cancer, blood cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, testicular cancer and prostate cancer.
(c) All costs associated with examinations required pursuant to subsection (a) shall be borne by the firefighter’s health care benefits plan or program provided by the firefighter’s employer.
SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 233. Any blanket or general policy of insurance shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to cost sharing including, but not limited to, co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that such cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the United States Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.
SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 39. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to cost sharing including, but not limited to, co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that such cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the United States Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.
SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 26. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement, except certificates that provide supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to cost sharing including, but not limited to, co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that such cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the United States Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.
SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 34. Individual and group health maintenance contracts delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to cost sharing including, but not limited to, co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that such cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the United States Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.