COVID-19 rebuttable presumption becomes law in Virginia

Firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and law enforcement officers in Virginia now have a presumption of compensability if they acquire COVID-19.

Lawmakers from the House and Senate unanimously passed H.B. 1375 in February to make it easier for these workers to obtain workers compensation for coronavirus by creating a rebuttable presumption for those workers.

The bill was sent to Gov. Ralph Northam, but on March 31 he declined to sign the bill, and recommended moving up the date for which these workers may be presumed to have acquired COVID-19 on the job from Sept. 1, 2020, as stipulated in the bill, to claims filed after July 1, 2020.

On Thursday, the House and Senate agreed to Gov. Northam’s change, making the bill law.

The presumption will expire Dec. 31, 2021.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.