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Council hears city plan to codify presumptive cancer claims for firefighters and peace officers
Summary
City HR staff presented a five-page presumptive cancer standard operating procedure that lays out screening, workers’ compensation steps, an appeals process and a city commitment to cover costs if a claim is ultimately denied; council asked statutory and scope questions and staff cited Arizona statutes in the packet.
Human resources staff presented an amendment to the city’s personal rules and regulations establishing firefighter and peace officer presumptive cancer standard operating procedures. The five-page procedure documents step-by-step actions for employees who suspect a presumptive claim, coordinates with the workers’ compensation carrier, and explains the appeals pathway through the Industrial Commission of Arizona.
HR staff summarized the process: an employee would first report a claim through the carrier portal and notify HR; the carrier (Travelers) opens a claims portal, assigns a claims agent and nurse case manager, and processes cases through the Industrial Commission of Arizona. If a claim is approved under the statutory presumptive standards the workers’ compensation carrier pays statutory benefits; the city would then provide additional leave to make the employee “whole” for partial wage replacement.
Addressing the possibility of denial, HR said the draft policy includes a city commitment: “It says the city will issue a letter notifying the employee that the city will cover the claim if denied by the workers' compensation carrier after going through the entire industrial commission process,” and would reimburse out-of-pocket deductibles or co-pays related to testing or treatment if the denial is upheld after appeal.
The presentation addressed retirees as well: retirees who meet statute criteria (retired as a firefighter or peace officer within 15 years and age 65 or younger) would be eligible to pursue a claim. Council members asked whether other city employees exposed to hazardous materials (for example, waste-management staff) could be included; HR and staff replied that the statutory presumptions apply specifically to firefighters and peace officers under Arizona statutes cited in the packet (23-901.01 and 23-901.09). Staff said policy changes to extend similar internal supports could be discussed separately.
Staff said the amended rules-and-regs document is a council-approved personnel policy and will be presented for formal approval as part of the personnel rules process.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 1268, topfinish SEG 1518.
Speakers quoted: Glenn (HR).
