State Considers Enhancing Mental Health for First Responders

A bill that would provide supplemental health care services and salary benefits to first responders diagnosed with certain mental conditions was introduced Wednesday in North Carolina’s House of Representatives. HB 523 would create a mental health care benefits plan as a supplemental insurance policy that would provide reimbursement of up to $5,000 per 12-month period for any out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred and would include a salary benefit equal to 75% of the first responder's monthly salary or up to $5,000 a month for up to 12 months. The bill would also introduce a...