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Post-traumatic stress disorder study

Introduction

During the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature passed recommendations from the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) in House File 2988. The law included a requirement for the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to conduct a study to identify systemic or regulatory changes to improve the experience and outcomes of employees with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DLI has contracted with the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota to complete the study, which is due Aug. 1, 2025. The recommendations from the study will help WCAC and the Minnesota Legislature with potential changes to current laws and rules related to PTSD in workers' compensation.

At a minimum, the study must:

  1. identify evidence-based methods and best practices for early detection and treatment of PTSD;

  2. review models, including those used in other jurisdictions and systems, for delivering mental health wellness training or employee assistance programs, treatment for PTSD and benefits related to PTSD (review must include outcomes and cost considerations);

  3. identify any programs in other jurisdictions with effective prevention, timely and effective medical intervention or high return-to-work rates for employees with work-related PTSD;

  4. review the definition of PTSD provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 176.011, subdivision 15, paragraph (d), and compare it to the definitions in other jurisdictions; and

  5. consider the list of occupations subject to the rebuttable presumption in Minn. Stat., section 176.011, subd. 15, paragraph (e).

Informational meetings

DLI is hosting two informational meetings about the PTSD study to update stakeholders about the scope and status of the study. The presentation-style meetings will be led by the University of Minnesota research team. The meetings are open to the public and are offered virtually only:

  • Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.; and

  • Monday, April 29, 2 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the meetings by email to ptsdstudy.dli@state.mn.us. There will also be an opportunity to submit questions through private chat during the meetings.

During the meetings, all participants are able to hear everything, but individual microphones will be muted. Questions to the research team can be submitted by chat during the meetings. Only the host can receive chat messages in the Webex application. View Webex instructions:  interactive instructions; and printable instructions. For technical assistance, email Katrina Namad at katrina.namad@state.mn.us.

Join the April 24 meeting

Join the April 29 meeting

Feedback

DLI and the University of Minnesota welcome your input about the PTSD study in the workers' compensation system. To offer feedback, complete the Workers' Compensation PTSD Policy form. Your feedback may be provided to the research team for review and consideration.

Additional information, updates

For additional information or to submit comments about the study, email Emily Streier, DLI Office of General Counsel, and Katherine Drake, DLI Research and Data Analytics, at ptsdstudy.dli@state.mn.us. Comments may be provided to the University of Minnesota research team for review and consideration in the final report.

Subscribe to receive emailed updates about this study.

Police benefit adequacy study

During the 2022 session, the Minnesota Legislature passed Senate File 1547, a bill requiring the Department of Labor and Industry to complete a study of police disability benefit adequacy with the assistance of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). DLI partnered with researchers at the Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota to work on completing the study.

The study considered workers' compensation benefits and duty disability and retirement benefits from the PERA Police and Fire plan and the adequacy of these benefits for Minnesota police officers.