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Kan. (KCTV) – Kansas first responders struggling with trauma-related mental health conditions can now apply for financial help
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced on Friday, July 31, that the Kansas Department of Insurance is accepting reimbursement requests through the HERO Act – the Helping First Responders Overcoming Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder program
The HERO Act is a pilot program designed to remove financial barriers for first responders seeking mental health treatment, state leaders said
Eligible participants can receive reimbursement for the diagnosis and treatment of:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Acute stress disorder
- Subclinical syndromes of either condition
To qualify, Schmidt noted that the condition must be a direct result of a duty-related traumatic event
The program is open to Kansas law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders
Officials said the state has set aside $1 million for the pilot program
The HERO Act was established this year through a proviso to the state budget, with the Kansas Department of Insurance administering the fund
“Our first responders put their lives on the line for us every day, and we owe them in return the same support when they need help,” Schmidt said. “The HERO Act will help remove a financial barrier for first responders who need vital mental health treatment they may not have been able to receive otherwise.”
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Ed Klumpp, representing three major Kansas law enforcement associations, said first responders routinely face traumatic scenes – and the HERO Act is the result of a coordinated push by legislators, agencies and first responder groups to provide real support
“The HERO Act will assist these first responders by providing financial support for professional evaluation and treatment of post-traumatic stress,” he concluded
Information on eligibility requirements and reimbursement request forms is available through the Kansas Department of Insurance HERE
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