New law to aid volunteer firefighters raises questions

April 07--FRANKFORT -- A new state law designed to provide health care benefits to volunteer firefighters who are diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer is raising questions among local fire chiefs, according to Frankfort Fire Chief Eric Conigliaro.

He told the village board Thursday that the topic was discussed at a recent fire chiefs meeting and the lack of information about the cost of the insurance is troubling to chiefs.

The law, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed late last year, is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2019. In the meantime, villages are required to adopt their budgets for the 2018-19 fiscal year before the end of April.

Under the New York State Volunteer Firefighter Enhanced Cancer Disability Benefits Act, volunteer firefighters who contract certain cancers will receive access to tax free disability and death benefits.

Specifically, volunteer firefighters diagnosed with lung, prostate, breast, lymphatic, hematological, digestive, urinary, neurological, reproductive systems or melanoma cancer will be automatically eligible for health benefits if they did not show any evidence of these cancers when they began their volunteer service, have at least five years interior firefighting service and are currently active or within 5 years of their last active date.

Currently, volunteer firefighters are eligible for accidental disability and death benefits through workers' compensation if they are injured in the line of duty, according to a statement from the governor's office. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, they will also be eligible for health benefits to support treatment for life-threatening cancers.

"The insurance companies of New York state do not even offer such a policy," said Mayor Richard Adams.

"By August or September we'll have an answer," said Conigliaro.

He estimated the cost could run between $250 and $300 for each firefighter and a benchmark physical examination would likely be required.

"The insurance companies are scrambling to create policies," Conigliaro said.

Published studies have linked an increased rate of cancer to firefighters because of the carcinogens from the burning of everyday products to which they are exposed when fighting interior fires.

Volunteer EMTs

Conigliaro reported there are emergency medical technicians who live outside the fire district who are interested in volunteering with the Frankfort ambulance to keep up their skills. He asked if they could be allowed to volunteer for emergency medical service calls only. As for insurance coverage, if an EMT is a member of another department, he would be a mutual aid provider, he said, but he wasn't sure about the status of those who are not members of another department.

Adams said he would discuss the proposal with the village's insurance provider to find out what the cost would be.

"If it's a small amount, I would not be opposed," he said.

The annual firefighters' memorial parade and ceremony are scheduled for May 23, according to the chief. Firefighters will meet at the station at 6 p.m. and, weather permitting, process to the memorial park for a 6:30 p.m. ceremony.

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