West Virginia House Bill 2797 would allow mental health nurse practitioners to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a compensable injury or disease under workers’ compensation.

The mental health nurse practitioner must hold a master’s degree or higher, as well as a terminal license within their profession and be qualified to treat PTSD. While diagnosis must be made my a mental health nurse practitioner who is qualified to treat PTSD, treatment can be offered by a different provider.

West Virginia currently only recognizes mental-only PTSD as a compensable injury in first responders, due to a law passed in 2021.

House Bill 2797 recently passed the House with a 94-1 vote and now heads to the Senate.