WashingtonWashington workers can receive limited PTSD care during claim review
Starting July 1, 2026, workers filing work-related PTSD claims can choose limited treatment while the state decides whether their claims qualify.
What it does
Starting July 1, 2026, workers who file a claim for work-related PTSD can choose limited treatment while the claim is being decided. Self-insurers may choose whether to join the pilot.
Workplace grants may support behavioral health projects for jobs with high risk of PTSD from repeated trauma exposure.
Argument forWorkers who choose the pilot could start limited PTSD treatment while their claim is reviewed, which may help them get care sooner.
Argument againstWorkers whose claims take longer to decide may need approval for more sessions, and self-insurers pay for pre-decision care when they later reject a claim.
More detail
The Department of Labor and Industries must offer eligible workers a chance to join the PTSD treatment pilot before deciding their claims. The pilot covers workers seeking workers' compensation coverage for PTSD as an occupational disease. Workers choose whether to take part, and self-insurers may choose whether to participate. Before a claim decision, care is limited to an evaluation and 11 treatment sessions within 90 days of filing. If the claim has not been allowed within 90 days, the supervisor may authorize up to 12 more sessions. If a state fund claim is rejected, treatment costs are spread across risk classes with a presumption of PTSD coverage. The self-insurer pays those costs for a rejected claim it handled. Once a claim is allowed, the worker must use a provider in the medical provider network. Within one year after claim closure, the department or participating self-insurer must authorize up to six more sessions if needed to maintain the worker's level of functioning at closure. The pilot starts July 1, 2026, and expires December 31, 2030. Pre-decision treatment begins when the worker files a claim.
The Department of Labor and Industries may use grants or contracts to support workplace behavioral health projects. The funding is for projects in workplaces insured through the state workers' compensation fund. Projects must focus on jobs with high PTSD risk from repeated exposure to trauma. Projects may include suicide prevention, mental health training, trauma-informed return-to-work support, or independent navigators. The text gives no separate start or end date for this grant authority.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Effective date 7/1/2026*.Latest
- Mar 25Chapter 220, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 25Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 9President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 6Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#7). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24LC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:45 AM.
- Feb 23Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 90; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 7.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 161st substitute bill substituted (LAWS 26).Major
- Feb 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 9APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Labor & Workplace Standards.Minor
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 6Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 3Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Jan 30LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 30Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 21Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.Introduced
Mental HealthHealthcareEconomy & Jobs