Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 15, 1993                   TAG: 9308110270
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: F-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHAT CHANGES IN THE LAW WOULD MEAN TO YOU

Payment of death benefits when an employee has no dependents. As the law now stands, parents cannot collect for the death of a worker unless they are, in fact, dependent on his income.

Creation of a Workers' Compensation Policy Council to analyze all proposed modifications to the act and report to the governor and General Assembly.

Establishment of an anti-fraud unit within the office of the attorney general. This would establish an enforcement vehicle for a law passed at the last session making it a misdemeanor to file a fraudulent claim.

Expansion of the act by lessening the burden of proof a claimant must carry in seeking compensation for an alleged workplace injury that also is an ordinary disease of life to which the employee may be exposed outside the employment relationship. An example would be hearing loss which can be a function of aging or noise outside of work.

A stay of efforts by any health provider from collecting a medical bill while a compensation claim is being decided.

A prohibition against an employer or its insurer paying a health care provider less than the amount billed, with the unpaid balance then billed to the employee. A hearing officer also would be vested with the power to settle disputed bills.

A requirement that rehabilitative services for injured employees be licensed.

A request that the General Assembly adopt legislation promoting establishment of workplace health and safety committees.