Quote of the day
“One of the challenges with PTSD has been because it is such a new type of claim we don’t have a lot of experience … there’s probably a little more uncertainty in the amount that we’re setting aside for it.”
Dan Greensweig, League of Minnesota Cities’ Insurance Trust
Minnesota: Cities brace for rising costs from PTSD in first responders
A growing number of states are acknowledging that responding to emergencies can have a lasting and damaging effect on mental health. A relatively new law in Minnesota has made it easier for first responders to claim workers’ compensation insurance for post-traumatic stress disorder, and cities and their insurers are scrambling to figure out how much it will cost to pay for PTSD treatment and for the time off needed as the employee recovers. Albert Lea Tribune
Ohio lawmakers introduce PTSD treatment bill for first responders
A new bill that will be formally introduced later this month offers an alternative proposal to the first responder post-traumatic stress disorder bill overwhelmingly supported last month by the Ohio House. The bill would provide full coverage for PTSD without an accompanying injury under the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation but the $44 million startup costs for PTSD coverage would be paid for by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds. PoliceOne
Two strains of coronavirus spreading
Chinese researchers who studied 103 samples of the coronavirus found two strains of it and that 70 percent of people have caught the most aggressive strain. Daily Mail
Five things employers can do to prepare for coronavirus
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is already impacting U.S. companies in a variety of ways, including from a human resources perspective, and all employers, regardless of size or location, must be ready to respond to employee questions regarding the virus and to take appropriate measures if the virus continues to spread, writes attorney Lauren S. Novak of Schiff Hardin. National Law Review
Gambling losses can quickly become the employer’s problem
Businesses are more vulnerable than ever for potential employee fraud driven by gambling. The money to support an employee’s gambling addiction has to come from somewhere, and can include payroll fraud, padding expense accounts, or even fraudulent workers’ comp claims. Delaware Business Times