This bill aims to modernize West Virginia's workers' compensation statutes by amending and reenacting various sections of the Code of West Virginia, particularly Articles 4 and 5. Key changes include the removal of outdated provisions and the standardization of references to public offices, as well as updates to statutory citations. Notably, the bill modifies the composition of the Board of Review from five members to a range of at least three but no more than five. It also introduces significant amendments regarding the reporting of injuries, requiring employees to report directly to their employers and obligating employers to report injuries to their insurance carriers. The bill clarifies the process for determining claim compensability and establishes procedures for temporary total disability benefits, while also addressing the rights of claimants and employers concerning objections and overpayments.

Additionally, the bill revises the responsibilities of the Insurance Commissioner, private carriers, and self-insured employers regarding permanent total disability benefits, including stipulations on the commencement of benefits and limitations on back payments. It introduces provisions for temporary total disability benefits for individuals in correctional facilities and outlines guidelines for medical service payments related to workers' compensation claims. The bill also clarifies the roles of employers and employees in managed health care plans, updates criteria for calculating disability benefits, and establishes new criteria for assessing disabilities related to specific body part losses. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the workers' compensation process, enhance support for injured workers, and ensure timely and accurate benefits while reflecting current legal standards and practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-4-1a, 23-4-1b, 23-4-1c, 23-4-1d, 23-4-1e, 23-4-3, 23-4-4, 23-4-5, 23-4-6, 23-4-6a, 23-4-6d, 23-4-7, 23-4-7a, 23-4-8a, 23-4-8b, 23-4-8c, 23-4-9, 23-4-11, 23-4-12, 23-4-14, 23-4-15, 23-4-15a, 23-4-15b, 23-4-16, 23-4-16a, 23-4-17, 23-4-18, 23-4-20, 23-4-23, 23-4-24, 23-4-25, 23-5-2, 23-5-4, 23-5-7, 23-5-11a, 23-5-14, 23-4-3b, 23-4-3c, 23-4-22, 23-5-1, 23-5-3, 23-5-5, 23-5-6, 23-5-8, 23-5-9, 23-5-10, 23-5-11, 23-5-12, 23-5-13, 23-5-16