On Friday, May 8, Governor Chet Culver of Iowa signed a bill requiring the state to accept that some illnesses and infectious diseases may be caused by hazards of the firefighting and police professions. Under this law, firefighters and police officers who develop certain cancers, including multiple myeloma, will no longer need to prove a link between the cancer and their job to collect benefits.

One month ago, the National League of Cities (NLC), a resource and advocate for thousands of cities, towns, and villages across the United States, published a report stating that not enough evidence exists to link cancer and firefighting.

However, Iowa’s new bill is not unprecedented. A Myeloma Beacon article published in February reported that a bill passed in Oregon could offer firefighters medical coverage for multiple myeloma and 11 other types of cancer.  Furthermore, according to the NLC, 24 states besides Oregon and Iowa already cover cancer for firefighters, and 20 of them cover multiple myeloma.

Similarly, Iowa’s bill covers 13 illnesses in addition to multiple myeloma, including malignant melanoma, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The bill, Senate File 226, will give public safety officers an average of $5000 in extra pension per year and cover health care treatment. Furthermore, cities will now be responsible for the medical care of those who can no longer work because of their illness, which could total as much as $100,000 per disabled worker.  However, the cost of the pension benefit will be the burden of current firefighters and police officers, who will each contribute an extra $50 to the pension system.

For more information, please see the related article at the DesMoinesRegister Web site.