CHAPTER 366

An Act to amend and reenact § 65-85, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to provision of medical attention under Virginia Workmen’s
Compensation Act.

[S 842)

'

Approved March 31, 1964

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 * minety days after an accident
the employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the
injured employee, such necessary medical attention, and where such ac-
cident results in the amputation of an arm, hand, leg or foot or the enu-
cleation of an eye or the loss of any natural teeth, the employer shall
furnish the initial prosthetic applicance 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 employer 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 In-
dustrial 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 Industrial
Commission, or a member thereof, the facts require a reasonable ex-
tension of such medical care beyond such period of * ninety days, the
Commission, or a member thereof, may, in its or his discretion, require
the employer to furnish free of charge to the injured employee such med-
ical attention for a reasonable time after the termination of the * ninety
day period, but not in excess of two years including such period of *
minety days.

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 Commis-
sion, the circumstances justified the refusal. In any such case the In-
dustrial 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 Commission.