FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH.

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View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 523 (Public) Filed Wednesday, March 29, 2023
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE POLICY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
Intro. by Clampitt, White, Saine, Reeder.

Status: Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action) (Mar 30 2023)
H 523

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 29 2023 - View Summary

    Adds new Article 86A, First Responders Mental Healthcare Plan Act, in GS Chapter 58, providing as follows.

    Establishes a first responder mental health care benefits plan, to be administered by the Department of Insurance, as a supplemental insurance policy that provides benefits to eligible first responders with a diagnosis of a mental condition. Defines first responder as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, 911 dispatcher, emergency medical technician employed by a State or local government, detention officer employed by a local government, correctional or probation officer employed by the State, or a volunteer firefighter meeting specified requirements; includes first responders employed by nongovernmental entities. Defines eligible mental condition as stress, mental injury, or mental illness that is medically diagnosed as an anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive and related disorder, sleep-wake disorder, or trauma and stressor-related disorder as described in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Sets out definitions for 911 dispatcher, emergency medical technicians and emergency medial dispatchers, firefighter, and law enforcement officer.

    Requires a first responder, in order to be eligible for benefits, to: (1) be currently employed as a first responder, regardless of the date of original diagnosis; (2) be diagnosed by a healthcare provider, who establishes with a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the condition is the result of a singular incident or accumulative effect of employment-related activities; and (3) have a diagnosed condition that resulted from the first responder acting within the scope of his or her employment as a first responder. Prohibits receiving benefits if the first responder is receiving benefits related to a mental condition under the NC Worker's Compensation Act.

    Sets out provisions governing a medical cost reimbursement, salary benefit, and a disability benefit, including the amount of the benefit and limits on which benefits can be used together. Sets out additional limitations on the disability benefits including limiting duration of the benefits to 36 consecutive months.

    Effective January 1, 2024.