Ohio Senate Pulls PTSD Treatment Coverage from Workers' Comp Budget

The Ohio State Senate on Thursday pulled language from a proposed budget that would allow for treatment of PTSD to be included for first responders' workers' compensation package.

According to the Columbus Dispatch , the Senate voted unanimously to pass the budget without language that would help officers cope with mental and emotional trauma suffered in the line of duty.

The speaker of the house quickly said that his chamber will not concur with the Senate-passed bill, creating what may be an impasse in coming to final approval of the two-year budget.

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio said it is disappointed and will continue to fight for the PTSD language.

The FOP said in a statement, "If a police officer breaks his leg carrying an injured child to safety, workers’ comp is there to help him. If that same child dies a painful death in the officer's arms, and the officer isn’t otherwise injured, there is no help for the officer to process and cope."