Bill Text: WV SB60 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Modifying workers' compensation guidelines for reasonable and necessary medical treatment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-13 - To Banking and Insurance [SB60 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2016-SB60-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2016 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 60
By Senator Yost
[Introduced January 13,
2016;
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; then to the Committee on
Labor; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §23-4-3b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to workers’ compensation; and modifying health care guidelines for reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §23-4-3b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS.
§23-4-3b. Creation of Health Care Advisory Panel.
(a) The commission shall establish a
Health Care Advisory Panel consisting of representatives of the various
branches and specialties among health care providers in this state which shall
be in existence exists until termination of the commission. There
shall be a minimum of five members of the Health Care Advisory Panel who shall
receive reasonable compensation for their services and reimbursement for
reasonable actual expenses. Each member of this panel shall be provided
appropriate professional or other liability insurance, without additional
premium, by the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management created pursuant
to article twelve, chapter twenty-nine of this code. The panel shall:
(1) Establish guidelines
for the health care treatment which is medically necessary and
reasonably required, giving deference to the opinion of the claimant’s
health care provider, for the treatment of the various types of injuries
and occupational diseases within the meaning of section three of this article;
(2) Establish protocols and procedures for the performance of examinations or evaluations performed by physicians or medical examiners pursuant to sections seven-a and eight of this article;
(3) Assist the commission in establishing guidelines for the evaluation of the care provided by health care providers to injured employees for purposes of section three-c of this article;
(4) Assist the commission in establishing guidelines regarding the anticipated period of disability for the various types of injuries pursuant to subsection (b), section seven-a of this article; and
(5) Assist the commission in establishing appropriate professional review of requests by health care providers to exceed the guidelines for treatment of injuries and occupational diseases established pursuant to subdivision (1) of this section.
(b) In
addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, on or before
December 31, 2003, the board of managers shall promulgate a rule establishing
the process for the medical management of claims and awards of disability which
includes, but is not limited to, reasonable and standardized guidelines and
parameters for appropriate treatment, expected period of time to reach maximum
medical improvement and range of permanent partial disability awards for common
injuries and diseases or, in the alternative, which incorporates by reference
the medical and disability management guidelines, plan or program being
utilized by the commission for the medical and disability management of claims,
with the requirements, standards, parameters and limitations of such
guidelines, plan or program having the same force and effect as the rule
promulgated in compliance herewith.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide quick and efficient medical treatment to the injured worker, which will allow a quick return to work for the injured worker.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.