California insurance providers must reimburse patients seeking mental health care after a natural disaster under proposed laws to address the emotional and mental trauma of wildfire victims.
The Eton and Palisades fires have burned massive swaths in Los Angeles County since January 7th, destroying more than 11,000 buildings, killing 29 people and causing about $30 billion in property damage. Experts and legislators expect devastation will likely leave lasting emotional and physical scars on residents whose lives have been ruined by tragedy.
“As Angelenos continues to recover from the devastating fire, the rally moves quickly to help and support residents, including support for mental and behavioral health.”
Written by Council member John Halabedian (D-Los Angeles) and supported by RIVAS, Congressional Bill 1032 is a qualifying enrollment with a licensed behavioral health provider if you live in a county. qualifying subscribers must be refunded. Due to a local or state emergency related to wildfires.
The Halabedian said that legislators are focusing on “physical reconstruction,” but “do not prioritize short-term and long-term impacts on mental health.”
If the bill is passed and the law is signed, profits will begin in 2026 and will be available for up to one year after the official state of emergency is lifted.
From January 7th to January 15th, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline saw a five-fold increase in the number of calls related to the Los Angeles area disaster pain helpline. The main sentiments reported include “fear, sadness, and a sense of true uncertainty.”
Dr. Le Ondra Clark Harvey, CEO of California Behavioral Health ASSN; Supporters of the bill say that physical symptoms someone may experience during a natural disaster may include fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, difficulty falling asleep, brain fog, inability to concentrate, and flashbacks He said there is.
“Wildfires are not an abnormality in Southern California, but the number of wildfires that were happening simultaneously and the level of destruction was truly devastating compared to the wildfires I’ve seen in my lifetime,” she said. . “The shock is even more shocking as it can be “taken off guard” for urban residents.”
According to a 2024 study by Nature Mental Health, researchers looked at the relationship between anxiety and wildfires, and from 2007 to 2018, the researchers looked at the relationship between anxiety disorders and emergency situations after wildfire events in California and other parts of the US West from 2007 to 2018. We found an increase in treatment room visits.
Among the most vulnerable populations during these disasters are children and elderly people, Clark Harvey said, and she emphasized the need for ongoing care.
“It’s important that people know how to take care of themselves during this time,” she said. “If you have something from normal that has been impacting your daily functioning in a natural disaster, don’t wait. Take action early.”
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