Across the country, an increasing number of states are passing PTSD presumption laws intended to protect first responders and other essential workers exposed to psychologically traumatic events. More than 30 states now allow mental health injuries to be compensable without requiring an accompanying physical injury. For many workers, this represents long-overdue recognition of the very real psychological consequences of serving their communities in dangerous, unpredictable environments. But while the intent of these laws is clear, the implementation has been anything but.

...Despite their good intentions, presumption laws have introduced several predictable challenges. First, state requirements vary dramatically...

Second, many clinicians are unprepared for the industrial context. Workers’ compensation is not traditional outpatient mental health care. Clinicians must evaluate causation, understand work-function requirements, and differentiate between acute stress, adjustment disorder, and PTSD. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) notes that most mental health providers lack training in occupational disability, which contributes to inconsistent diagnoses and treatment plans.

Read Dr. Kertay's full article in WorkCompWire here.  The WCRI study that he cites is "A Primer on Behavioral Health Care in Workers’ Compensation."   Click the link for more information on it, including instructions on how to get a copy!