Vermont Gov. James Douglas has signed into law a bill to financially protect firefighters who suffer heart attacks in the line of duty. The measure, which took effect upon signing, ensures that firefighters who suffer work-related heart disease receive workers’ compensation–or their families receive death benefits should they die. Until now, firefighters who suffered a heart attack, stroke or other heart-related illness within 72 hours of answering an emergency call were forced to prove their illness was job related if insurance companies contested their claim. The new law gives firefighters the benefit of the doubt, and forces insurance companies to prove otherwise.
The new law, which does not cover volunteer firefighters, brings Vermont in step with 37 other states that recognize that stress associated with being a professional firefighter increases the risk of heart disease, firefighters said.
The law was prompted by the 2002 death of Whiting Fire Chief Clarence Birchmore, who suffered a heart attack while responding to a car accident. Insurance officials rejected his estate’s claim that answering the early morning call triggered the heart attack, and denied death benefits to Birchmore’s widow. The state eventually overturned the decision, but the case raised questions and prompted the law change, Douglas said.
Topics Workers' Compensation
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