Connecticut Bill Would Expand PTSI Coverage for Workers’ Comp
On March 13, Connecticut’s Labor and Public Employees Committee advanced House Bill 6954, which would expand workers’ compensation eligibility for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI).
The committee passed the bill on a party-line vote.
For Connecticut mental health providers who treat injured workers, this bill signals a potentially important update to what qualifies as a compensable injury under Connecticut law—and may increase the volume of workers seeking care for PTSI.
HB 6954: Redefining PTSI for CT Workers’ Comp
HB 6954 amends Section 31-294k of the Connecticut General Statutes, which outlines workers’ compensation eligibility for PTSI. Under the current version of the Statutes, an employee qualifies for PTSI coverage for certain traumatic events, including:
- Viewing a deceased minor
- Witnessing "the death of a person or an incident involving the death of a person"
- Witnessing "an injury to a person who subsequently dies..."
- Carrying an injured person who subsequently dies
- Witnessing a "traumatic physical injury" that results in the loss of a vital body part or function that results in permanent disfigurement
HB 6954 introduces a new qualifying event:
“Witnessing a serious physical injury to a person that does not result in the death or permanent disfigurement of such person.”
The bill uses the definition of “serious physical injury” from Section 53a-3 of the General Statutes, which includes injuries that:
- Creates a substantial risk of death, or
- Causes serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health or serious loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ
If Connecticut enacts the bill, the change will take effect October 1, 2025.
HB 6954 has the potential to increase workers’ comp mental health claims and require providers to learn how to request authorization for claims that would qualify if the bill becomes law. daisyNews will continue tracking the legislation as it moves forward.
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Two things: On the PTSD issue, I find PTSD actually in the WC system itself in terms of expecting care but unable to get care in that an injured worker has to suffer lack and/or limitatin of treatment with denials. It's a torture of sorts. Helplessness, living in pain, being told one doesn't get care or has used up all the care that the book allows. They are helpless and hopeless, totally handcuffed until they get out of the system and may qualify for alternative cares via state or federal sources. This futility causes depression and is "traumatic" in the sense of torture and futility to obtain care. On another issue: regarding the PPO discount issues, that's about 10 %; what about the 30% reduction 790463 for what they call "class codes" ...those are way more damaging than PPO discounts. DB said they had an article on that...and any comments would be helpful... WC is managed care that did not last long in regular health care about 30 years ago.
Thank you. Charles Kodimer, Ph.D.