An ordinance endorsed by a majority of the Atlanta City Council would study the potential of providing ketamine and psilocybin coverage to city employees, including firefighters, cops and city staff.
Dried psilocybin mushrooms and a vial of ketamine.
Sponsored by Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and cosponsored by a majority of the council, the resolution states that “that the Department of Human Resources is hereby requested to explore the feasibility of adding coverage for ketamine therapy, psilocybin therapy, and other alternative therapies for mental illnesses in the City’s employee benefits contracts during its next round of negotiations.”
The Department is further requested “to conduct a thorough review of the scientific evidence, safety considerations, regulatory landscape, liability, cost implications, and applicability based upon one’s job classification to incorporate such alternative therapies as part of the employee’s benefits package.”
The ordinance urges the Department “to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and employee representatives, to gather input and ensure that any proposed coverage options are in the best interest of the City’s workforce.”
The Department would be required to report its findings and recommendations to the Atlanta City Council by the December 10, 2024 Community Development/Human Services committee meeting.
The full text of the resolution can be found below.
WHEREAS, mental health disorders continue to be a significant concern affecting individuals within our community, impacting their overall well-being and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, traditional treatments for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and others have shown limited effectiveness for some individuals, leading to a need for exploring alternative therapeutic options; and
WHEREAS, recent research has demonstrated the potential efficacy of alternative therapies such as ketamine-assisted therapy and psilocybin-assisted therapy in treating various mental health conditions, offering promising results where other treatments have failed; and
WHEREAS, providing access to a diverse range of mental health treatment options aligns with the City of Atlanta’s commitment to supporting the holistic well-being of its employees and their families; and
WHEREAS, the Human Resources department is responsible for negotiating and administering employee benefits contracts, including healthcare coverage options; and
WHEREAS, it is prudent for the City of Atlanta to explore the inclusion of alternative therapies such as ketamine therapy, psilocybin therapy, and other emerging modalities in its employee benefits contracts to ensure comprehensive mental health support for its workforce.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, that the Department of Human Resources is hereby requested to explore the feasibility of adding coverage for ketamine therapy, psilocybin therapy, and other alternative therapies for mental illnesses in the City’s employee benefits contracts during its next round of negotiations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Human Resources is further requested to conduct a thorough review of the scientific evidence, safety considerations, regulatory landscape, liability, cost implications, and applicability based upon one’s job classification to incorporate such alternative therapies as part of the employee’s benefits package.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Human Resources is urged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and employee representatives, to gather input and ensure that any proposed coverage options are in the best interest of the City’s workforce.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Human Resources is to report its findings and recommendations to the Atlanta City Council by the December 10, 2024 Community Development/Human Services committee meeting.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that all resolutions and parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby waived for purposes of resolutions only and only to the extent of the conflict.
