UPDATE: House passes PTSD bill; it’s now on its way to governor’s desk
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UPDATE:
A proposed bill making post-traumatic stress disorder covered by worker’s compensation for first responders is on its way to the Governor’s desk.
The Idaho House of Representatives voted 59 to 10 Thursday to pass House Minority Leader Rep. Matthew Erpelding’s bill. The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Little’s desk to be signed into law.
“The legislature took a big step in helping Idaho’s first responders today,” Erpelding said in a news release. “Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to help us in our most desperate hours. It’s about time that we took the necessary steps to protect the people who do us such an amazing service. It is deeply troubling that more first responders die from suicide than in the line of duty and we have to do something to fix it.”
ORIGNAL STORY:
BOISE — A bill making its way through Idaho’s Legislature would make post-traumatic stress in first responders covered by worker’s compensation.
Under Idaho law, post-traumatic stress disorder is only covered by worker’s compensation if accompanied by physical injury. But if passed, the bill would make PTSD covered by worker’s compensation.
“(Post-traumatic stress injury) is a serious problem for our first responders. It leads to substance abuse, divorce and suicide,” House Minority Leader Rep. Matthew Erpelding, D-Boise, said of his decision to sponsor the bill.
The bill defines post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder that meets the criteria for PTSD specified by the American Psychiatric Association.
According to PTSinjury’s website, some people are advocating to officially change “disorder” to “injury” as they believe the word “disorder” carries a stigma that deters some sufferers from seeking help.
Idaho Falls Fire Chief Dave Hanneman said he and the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association support the bill.
“We think it’s a good thing for our firefighters in the state,” Hanneman said.
Hanneman said if worker’s compensation covers PTSD, employers would have more leeway to help those suffering from it get the help they need.
“What ends up happening now, is if somebody has one of these issues — it’s like a sick leave issue. So the employer isn’t really in a position to help,” Hanneman said.
The bill requires the first responder to have “clear and convincing” evidence of a physiological injury for worker’s compensation to cover their treatment.
“Clear and convincing evidence is a very high standard that’s put to a licensed clinician when assessing a patient for an injury. In other words, they have demonstrated clear and convincing evidence that it was caused by the workplace,” Erpelding said.
Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, brought the bill before the Senate, where it passed with a 31-to-4 vote earlier this month.
The House Commerce and Human Resources Committee is waiting on a third reading of the bill. If it passes the committee, it will go on to the House floor for a vote.