Maine Senate gives initial approval to Sen. Bailey bill to improve health care coverage for first responders

AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, April 2, the Maine Senate gave initial approval to a bill from Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco. LD 444, “An Act to Designate First Responders and Other Public Safety Professionals as a Special Risk Population for the Purposes of Improving Insurance Coverage for the Effects of Trauma,” would improve access to preventive health screenings for emergency medical services (EMS) providers, firefighters and police officers.

“This bill was prompted by a discussion with the Chief of Police in Saco,” said Sen. Bailey. “Chief Clements had gone for his routine physical with his doctor and, having recently attended a seminar on preventative health screenings for first responders, asked about getting a specialized lipid test that can detect pre-health risks for a heart attack, which are not detected by the standard cholesterol blood test. Luckily, for Chief Clements, his doctor was willing to order the test, and the results indicated Chief Clements was in fact at high risk for a heart attack. This bill would require insurance companies to cover these potentially life-saving preventative screenings for first responders.”

Currently, the preventive health screenings that are necessary to catch the early onset of health impacts related to first responder risks are not provided (or covered) without a clear presenting symptom. For example, most insurances do not cover negative screenings for cancer except in certain circumstances. Some screenings, like mammograms or screenings for colon cancer, have age-related triggers.

LD 444 would designate first responders as a special risk group, ensuring all first responders are evaluated for their real risks regardless of the size or capacity of the agency they work for, employment status, or insurance carrier. 

On average, the lifespan of a firefighter is 10 years less than the lifespan of a non-firefighter. Firefighters are often exposed to toxic chemicals that can result in serious health conditions. According to the CDC, cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, putting them at higher risk for some cancers when compared to the general population.

The bill will have additional votes in the House and the Senate.

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