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Labor & Industries presents PTSD claims data and prevention efforts to committee
Summary
Labor and Industries told the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee that PTSD claims—especially presumptive claims for firefighters and law‑enforcement officers—have produced disproportionately high claim and pension costs, and the agency outlined prevention work and requests for further actuarial analysis.
Labor and Industries (L&I) presented a work session to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims in Washington’s workers’ compensation system, detailing claim volumes, cost patterns and ongoing prevention and clinical‑guideline work.
Brenda Heilman, assistant director for the workers’ compensation program at L&I, and Dr. Dave Bonnato, research director for the SHARP prevention program, told the committee that PTSD claims—particularly those filed by firefighters and law‑enforcement officers under statutory presumptions—have driven a substantial share of claim costs in the affected risk classes.
Key findings presented: - Presumptive coverage: Washington law creates an occupational disease presumption for firefighters, law‑enforcement officers and certain emergency responders in specific circumstances; direct‑care registered nurses were added to presumption coverage in 2023 with a 90‑day work requirement. - Claim volume and disposition:…
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