Finance committee backs $39,975 state grant for firefighter cancer screenings

The Annapolis City Council Finance Committee voted to give a favorable recommendation to supplemental appropriation SA 2525, accepting a $39,975 Maryland state grant to pay for a noninvasive cancer screening program for the city’s uniformed fire personnel.

The screening program — a portable ultrasound-based exam that checks for nine types of cancer and other conditions — was described to the committee as a preventative measure aimed at identifying disease early among firefighters. The committee chair moved to recommend approval and members voted in the affirmative.

The grant, described by staff as part of the Maryland professional volunteer firefighter initiative cancer-screening technology grants, will fund screening for 123 uniform personnel; the department reported its total uniformed staff at 134. Chief O’Malley told the committee that cancer “has been one of my concerns for some time” and that the fire service nationally has seen an increase in cancer cases among responders.

Chief Lopez summarized the grant specifics: “The grant is for $39,975 and it’s to cover 123 of our uniform personnel. We do have 134 uniform personnel. So the overage of what the grant will provide we can absolutely absorb within our annual department employee physicals account.” Lopez described the screening as a noninvasive ultrasound that looks for nine cancers, including thyroid, liver, kidney, gallbladder, spleen, testicular screening for men and pelvic screening for women; staff said screenings have also detected noncancer conditions such as heart blockages.

Committee members asked who receives results and whether follow-up care would be required. Staff replied that participating individuals are contacted directly by the physician associated with the screening company to review individual results; if an anomaly is detected the individual is urged to seek follow-up care with a specialist and any recommended care would be covered by the employee’s insurance. Staff said follow-up is the participant’s responsibility; the city will not mandate further care.

Officials told the committee the grant carries an urgent timing element: the signed grant materials needed to be completed by Jan. 16. The motion at the meeting was for a favorable recommendation to the council; members agreed.

The committee’s favorable recommendation sends SA 2525 to the full City Council for final approval and appropriation, with staff noting any small supplemental costs not covered by the grant can be absorbed within the department’s existing physicals account.