While more states than ever are accepting first responder standalone mental injury claims, the number of states that have workers compensation presumptions for job-related physical diseases continue to far outweigh mental injury presumptions, according to research publicized on Monday by Drexel University.
The findings, published in the Journal of Public Health Policy and compiled by faculty members from Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health and its Center for Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends, found that all 50 states supported physical-to-mental injury claims for first responders, while 44 supported mental-to-physical claims and 40 supported mental-to-mental claims.
The study highlighted several barriers experienced by first responders seeking workers comp benefits for various injuries, including latency periods, time limits and preexisting health conditions.
Researchers said states can ease these barriers through policy changes such as implementing presumptive coverage for first-responder mental illness as a statute with a built-in sunset clause or termination date, a model that was used for COVID-19 presumptions during the height of the pandemic.
The study said first responders such as firefighters and emergency medical services workers face a “considerable amount of stress on the job and witness traumatic events on a regular basis,” which could lead to the development of conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and cause low morale and burnout.