Cities Miffed About Enforcement Actions on Cancer Claim Denials

When Texas lawmakers approved Senate Bill 2551 in May, they established what many said was a more clearly illuminated path for cities and counties to follow in handling cancer claims by firefighters. After years of protests from sickened firefighters, and intense news coverage across the state about some cities denying claims, the law added eight more cancers to the list of those presumed to be linked to hazardous work conditions. It also spelled out procedures that municipalities and their insurers must follow when denying the cancer claims, and clarified the penalties cities could...