§ 65.2-101. See § 44-60; HB 459.

§ 65.2-512 amended. Burial expenses. Increases, from $5,000 to $10,000, the maximum burial expenses an employer may be required to pay for a deceased worker. The bill also increases, from $500 to $1,000, the amount of reasonable transportation expenses an employer may be required to pay for the deceased. HB 1066; CH. 100.

§ 65.2-520 amended. Voluntary payments. Allows employers, when making workers' compensation benefit payments, to deduct from the payments any voluntary payments which were not due and payable. Current law allows deducting the voluntary payments by shortening the time period during which benefits are paid to the injured employee. This bill allows the weekly benefits to be reduced by an amount not to exceed one-fourth of the amount of the compensation for as long as necessary for the employer to recover his voluntary payment. SB 443; CH. 68.

§ 65.2-525 amended. Payments to minors or incapacitated persons. Increases from $300 to $10,000 the amount of compensation payments which may be made to the parent or guardian of a minor. The bill also increases from $300 to $10,000 the amount over which the payments shall be made to a guardian or conservator of a minor or an incapacitated adut. HB 812; CH. 94.

§ 65.2-603 amended. Duty to furnish medical attention. Removes wheelchairs from a provision of the Workers' Compensation Act limiting reimbursement for specified medical equipment and modifications to an aggregate cost of $25,000 for any one accident. Wheelchairs, walkers, canes or crutches would be furnished, fitted, and maintained by the employer as the nature of the injury may require, and not subject to the $25,000 lifetime cap. This bill also requires that employers provide prosthetic or orthotic appliances, proper fitting and maintenance, and training in the use of the appliance when an accident results in the loss of use of an arm, hand, leg or foot. Under current law, such appliances, maintenance, and training are only required when an accident results in amputation of an arm, hand, leg, or foot. SB 365; CH. 65.

§ 65.2-604 amended. Requirement to provide copies of medical reports. Amends Virginia Workers' Compensation Act to permit a representative of (i) an injured employee, (ii) the employer, or (iii) the insurer to request and receive medical reports from any physician attending an injured employee. HB 878; CH. 431.

§ 65.2-705 amended. Receipt of notice or awards; rehearing. Modifies provisions governing the deadline for receipt by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission of an application for Commission review of a Deputy Commissioner's award. Under current law, such an application must be made within 20 days of the date of the award. This bill computes the 20-day period from the date the parties receive their notice of the award by registered or certified mail, as currently required by § 65.2-704. HB 813; CH. 95.

§ 65.2-715 added. Notice. Requires the Workers' Compensation Commission in all proceedings in connection with awards to provide copies of any written notice, opinion, order or award regarding a specific case to the employee, the employer and the compensation carrier, and, if represented, their counsel, at the same time and in the same manner. HB 909; CH. 143.

§ 65.2-1201 amended; third enactment of Chapter 99 of the Acts of Assembly of 1997 repealed. Uninsured Employer's Fund; payment of tax. Increases the maximum premium tax for the uninsured and self-insured employer fund. Under current law, the Workers' Compensation Commission may not assess premium tax for this fund in excess of one-quarter of one percent. This bill establishes one-half of one percent as the ceiling for this tax, a rate that will revert to one-quarter of one percent on January 1, 2000. The bill also directs the Commission to conduct a study of the uninsured employee's fund focused on: (i) the fund's revenue needs, (ii) administration of claims, and (iii) oversight of self-insured employees. The Commission will report its study results to Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Labor and Commerce Committees by December 1, 1998. Eff. 4/12/98. SB 16; CH. 388.