Free January 2006 - West Virginia

Claims Services Division PO Box 50541 Charleston, WV 25305 (304) 558-5838

January 23, 2006

To: All Workers' Compensation Carriers and Third Party Administrators NOTICE: IMPORTANT CHANGES AFFECTING PAYMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES AND HOTEL CHARGES FOR OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS BOARD CLAIMANT EXAMINATIONS

This notice is to advise all workers' compensation carriers and third party administrators that payment for travel expenses, including lodging, associated with Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board examinations of claimants scheduled by the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner will become the responsibility of the workers' compensation carrier. This change is effective beginning with travel and lodging on February 1, 2006. The workers' compensation carrier or third party administrator will assist the claimant with lodging arrangements upon notification of the examination date from the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. Please note the hotel previously used by the State of West Virginia, Best Western/Charleston Plaza, has agreed to continue the same rates and methods for individual carriers. For more information, please call the motel at (304) 3459779. If there are any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please direct all calls to Joan Abbott with the Claims Services Division of the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner at (304) 558-5838. For other information relating to workers' compensation policy changes and issues please refer to the Offices of Insurance Commissioner web site at www.wvinsurance.gov.