SB 523 — 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.

PRINTER'S NO.   492

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         SENATE BILL
                         No. 523
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY FARRY, SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, PENNYCUICK,
        SANTARSIERO, FONTANA, KANE, SAVAL, ROBINSON AND STEFANO,
        MARCH 26, 2025

     REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
        MARCH 26, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating
 3      to emergency management services, providing for health
 4      screenings for firefighters and EMS providers.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.     Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 7715.    Health screenings for firefighters and EMS providers.
10      (a)    Cancer and cardiovascular health screening exams.--A
11   firefighter or EMS provider employed as a full-time paid
12   employee of a fire department or a political subdivision shall
13   have a cancer and cardiovascular health screening exam conducted
14   by a physician no less than once every three years during the
15   course of the firefighter's or EMS provider's employment. Where
16   applicable, a health screening under this section shall include,
17   at a minimum:
18             (1)   Screenings for the following cancers and
 1      cardiovascular conditions:
 2                  (i)    Liver.
 3                  (ii)    Gallbladder.
 4                  (iii)    Kidney.
 5                  (iv)    Spleen.
 6                  (v)    Urinary bladder and prostate.
 7                  (vi)    Abdominal aorta.
 8                  (vii)    Testicle and scrotal.
 9                  (viii)    Pelvic, uterus and ovary external scan.
10                  (ix)    Thyroid.
11                  (x)    Carotid.
12                  (xi)    Colon.
13                  (xii)    Lung.
14                  (xiii)    Skin.
15            (2)   An echocardiogram.
16            (3)   For a male, a prostate-specific antigen screening.
17            (4)   For a female, a human papillomavirus screening.
18      (b)   Cost of health screenings.--All costs associated with a
19   health screening under this section shall be covered by a health
20   care benefits plan included with the firefighter's or EMS
21   provider's employment, an insurance fund, joint insurance fund
22   or other manner. An employer shall cover the cost of a
23   copayment, deductible, coinsurance or employee out-of-pocket
24   expense for a health screening under this section.
25      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
26   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
27   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
28      "EMS provider."       Any of the following:
29            (1)   An emergency medical responder.
30            (2)   An emergency medical technician.

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1         (3)     An advanced emergency medical technician.
2         (4)     A paramedic.
3         (5)     A prehospital registered nurse.
4         (6)     A prehospital physician extender.
5         (7)     A prehospital emergency medical services physician.
6         (8)     An individual prescribed by regulation of the
7     Department of Health to provide specialized emergency medical
8     services.
9     Section 2.    This act shall take effect immediately.




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