CHAPTER 444

An Act to amend and reenact § 65-85, as amended, of the Code of Virguia,
relating to the duty of employers to furnish medical attention under
the Workmen’s Compensation Act. 'S 229]

Approved March 31, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 65-85, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 65-85. For a period not exceeding sixty days after an accident the
employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the in-
jured employee, such necessary medical attention, and where such accident
results in the amputation of an arm, hand, leg or foot or the enucleation
of an eye or the loss of any natural teeth, the employer shall furnish the
initial prosthetic appliance and shall furnish proper fitting thereof, the
total cost not to exceed one thousand dollars, as the nature of the accident
may require, and the employee shall accept, and during the whole or any
part of the remainder of his disability resulting from the injury, the em-
ployer may, at his own option, continue to furnish or cause to be furnished,
free of charge to the employee, and the employee shall accept, an attending
physician, unless otherwise ordered by the Industrial Commission, and in
addition, such surgical and hospital service and supplies as may be deemed
necessary by the attending physician or the Industrial Commission. When,
in the judgment of the majority of the Industrial Commission, the facts
require a reasonable extension of such medical attention beyond such period
of sixty days, such majority of the Commission may, in its discretion, re-
quire the employer to furnish free of charge to the injured employee such
medical attention for a reasonable time after the termination of the sixty-
day period, but not in excess of one year including such period of sixty

ays.

The refusal of the employee to accept such service when provided by
the employer shall bar the employee from further compensation until such
refusal ceases and no compensation shall at any time be paid for the
period of suspension unless, in the opinion of the Industrial Commission,
the circumstances justified the refusal. In any such case the Industrial
Commission may order a change in the medical or hospital service.

If in an emergency on account of the employer’s failure to provide
the medical care during the period herein specified, or for other good
reasons, a physician other than provided by the employer is called to treat
the injured employee, during said period, the reasonable cost of such service
shall be paid by the employer if ordered so to do by the Industrial Com-
mission.