208-26 FAQsforFirefighterCancerScreening.pdf

FIREFIGHTER CANCER SCREENING REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN SHBP FAQs What is the Firefighter Cancer Screening Reimbursement program? N.J.S.A 52:14-17.29ii(a) requires access to periodic cancer screenings for full-time, paid firefighters not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) and firefighters who are employed by an SHBP-covered entity, but have waived SHBP coverage, within three years after the start of the firefighter’s employment and every three years thereafter during the course of employment. The examination shall include, at a minimum and as applicable, the screening for eleven types of cancer pursuant to N.J.S.A 52:14-17.29ii(a). Eligible public employers may request reimbursement of a maximum of $1,250 per firefighter over a three year period towards the costs associated with providing the required cancer screenings. Are retired firefighters eligible for this program? No. N.J.S.A 52:14-17.29ii(a) only covers active, full-time paid firefighters. What department is administering the reimbursement program? The Division of Administration, through the Department of the Treasury, is administering the reimbursement program. Will Administration assist employers with setting up a program for their municipality/town/city/etc.? Administration is only reimbursing the employer for the cancer screenings and not mandating to employers how the program is run. Selecting a provider, setting up appointments, billing, etc. is up to each individual employer. Does Administration have a list of acceptable providers to use for screenings? Administration does not provide a list of providers employers can use for the screenings. The employer can contact their firefighter union for assistance in selecting a provider. If an employer is in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), but has firefighters with outside coverage who have waived SHBP benefits, can the municipality be reimbursed for those firefighters?

N.J.S.A 52:14-17.29ii(a) has recently been amended to include reimbursement for full- time, paid firefighters who work for an SHBP employer, but are eligible for other health care coverage and have waived coverage under SHBP. SHBP municipalities who employ firefighters with other health care coverage can request for reimbursement (for those firefighters only) through the Division of Administration within the Department of the Treasury. Are volunteer firefighters included in this program? N.J.S.A 52:14-17.29ii(a) only applies to full-time, paid firefighters. Two bills have been introduced to provide cancer screenings for volunteer firefighters: A373 (Stanley) and S2037 (Gopal). How does a municipality register for the program? Administration is utilizing an online portal to submit reimbursement claims called SimpliGov. An authorized representative for the public employer, who will be responsible for submitting reimbursement claims, should fill out the registration form here: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/administration/firefighter-app.shtml The authorized representative will be required to upload a letter on public employer letterhead attesting to his or her authority to submit claims on behalf of the public employer. What is an NJCFS Vendor ID? How does an employer know their NJCFS Vendor ID? NJCFS is the State’s accounting system and how the State pays vendors. The NJCFS Vendor ID is typically the FEIN number, but employers can either reach out to their main business office/fiscal officer to confirm which ID would be best to use, or contact OMB’s Vendor Control Unit for more information on their existing IDs: Email: AAIUNIT@treas.nj.gov Phone: (609) 633-0783 How long will it take to be paid once a request has been submitted in SimpliGov? Does the State pay the vendor directly, or will the check be sent to the public employer? Once a properly submitted request has been approved, please allow up to 10 business days for a payment request to be processed. Once the request is approved and the check is cut and mailed, Administration cannot guarantee receipt date, as it depends on the postal service. The check will be sent to the public employer, who is then responsible for paying the invoice to the vendor. The State will not send payment directly to a vendor.

How can I check the status of claims submitted? All claims submitted by an employer can be seen in the dashboard on the main page in SimpliGov. Please see the “status” column to see where the claim is in the processing stage. Public employers of full-time, active firefighters are eligible for the reimbursement for firefighters who have been active for 3 years. If an individual switches departments, but has been a firefighter for 3 years, does the employer qualify for reimbursement? If an individual switches departments, the employer is able to request for reimbursement, as the individual has been an active firefighter; however, individual firefighters are only entitled to screenings every 3 years. For example: Firefighter Joe is screened in 2024 through ABC Town, and ABC Town received the reimbursement. Firefighter Joe transfers to DEF Town in 2026. Firefighter Joe is not eligible for another screening until 2027 and DEF Town cannot request reimbursement for him until 2027. If the public employer hires a firefighter who has transferred departments, it is important for the employer to know when the firefighter was last screened so the employer does not seek reimbursement for a firefighter before they are eligible for their next screening. The SimpliGov system tracks by individual firefighter, not employer.