Vermont Weighs Expansion of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

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Vermont lawmakers will consider a bill that would extend workers’ compensation to cover mental and emotional problems suffered on the job. But the proposal is getting a cool reception from the insurance industry.

State Rep. Paul Poirier, who helped create the law establishing parity between mental health and physical health insurance coverage 12 years ago, is sponsoring the new bill.

Poirier, D-Barre, says people who experience trauma on the job and can’t continue working don’t have coverage.

But John Hollar, a lobbyist for the American Insurance Association, says the bill would mean a dramatic expansion of workers’ compensation claims and says it’s the wrong time to increase costs for employers.