Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - Hypertension

This bill (SB 173) creates a legal presumption that certain firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, and emergency medical personnel (both paid and volunteer) have work-related hypertension if they meet specific medical criteria. It adds hypertension to the list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for these first responders under Maryland’s workers’ compensation law, provided they have blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 mmHg (per the NFPA 1582 standard) and have used prescribed medication for at least 90 consecutive days. This change simplifies the process for qualifying individuals to receive workers’ compensation benefits for hypertension-related disability or death. The bill applies only to those meeting these precise medical requirements and takes effect October 1, 2025.