Pennsylvania PTSD Coverage Bill Moves Ahead

Pennsylvania’s state Senate approved a proposal on Wednesday to expand the Commonwealth’s workers’ compensation program to cover first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
It would join the 25 other states that have already done so, according to Rep. Jenn O’Mara, D-Delaware County, who sponsored similar legislation in the House.
State police officers, firefighters, paramedics and officers of the peace may qualify if diagnosed. Roughly 100,000 first responders live in Pennsylvania.
Analysis from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published in 2018 estimated that 30% of first responders develop mental health conditions, as compared to 20% among the general population.
The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
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Stephanie McCloud will be returning to the Administrator’s position at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in mid November.
She is currently serving as chief of staff to Gov. Mike DeWine. Current Administrator John Logue will now serve as Deputy Administrator at BWC.
This will be her third stint in the role, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was previously BWC administrator from September 2021 to December 2022 and from January 2019 to October 2020.
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The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has slated its online 2024 Medical and Health Symposium for Nov. 13-15.
The program, which this year focuses on technology in medicine and patient care, is free and participants can earn continuing education credits.
Sessions will discuss the ethics of today’s growing need to manage artificial intelligence and the increasing accumulation of data.
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