Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerPolicy UpdatesReimbursement/Payment PolicyWest Virginia Funeral Expense Policy Update | Open…
    Ask Trek AI about this page
    CurrentWest Virginia Offices of the Insurance CommissionerPolicy 22-05

    Funeral and Cemetery Expenses for Workers' Compensation Claims

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner Policy 22-05 alerts

    Get alerted when Policy 22-05 changes without checking for updates manually.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Establishes the reasonable amount payable for funeral or cemetery expenses when a West Virginia workers' compensation injury causes death, including payment requirements and restrictions on excess charges.

    Policy Summary
    PayerWest Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
    PolicyFuneral and Cemetery Expenses for Workers' Compensation Claims
    Policy CodePolicy 22-05
    Change TypeAmount increased and prior guidance replaced
    Effective DateJuly 1, 2022
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionPay up to $10,000 for funeral or cemetery expenses when a work-related injury causes death.
    SourceLink
    POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

    The maximum amount deemed reasonable for funeral or cemetery expenses increased from $7,000 to $10,000.

    Informational Letter 170 was revoked and replaced as the governing funeral and cemetery expense amount.

    $10,000Maximum reasonable expense
    $7,000Previous amount
    $3,000Maximum fine
    12 months

    OpenPayer is powered by Trek Health's payer performance platform. Trek continuously ingests, validates, and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data alongside payer policies and other commercial payer data to create a structured payer intelligence foundation. OpenPayer uses this foundation to deliver personalized search results, dynamically generated policy pages, and tailored policy monitoring based on each user's payers, specialties, billing codes, and areas of interest. The same intelligence powers broader payer performance workflows, including reimbursement benchmarking, contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and financial decision-making.

    Maximum confinement
    2Required disclosures or consents

    Funeral and Cemetery Expense Reimbursement

    Funeral and Cemetery Expense Reimbursement Criteria

    Funeral or cemetery expenses are payable under a workers’ compensation claim when a work-related personal injury causes death. The fixed amount is up to $10,000 for services provided on or after July 1, 2022; the responsible private carrier, self-insured employer, or fund pays the eligible expense in addition to any award to the employee’s dependents.

    ALL of the following conditions apply

    • The personal injury is work-related and causes the employee’s death.
    • The claim includes reasonable funeral or cemetery services and supplies provided on or after July 1, 2022.

      The amount fixed by the Insurance Commissioner is up to $10,000. Informational Letter 170 and the prior $7,000 amount were revoked effective June 30, 2022.

    • Payment is made by the party responsible for the claim, to the persons who furnished the services and supplies or to persons who advanced payment for them.

      Payment is in addition to any award made to the employee’s dependents.

    • The amount claimed does not exceed $10,000, unless the requirements for an excess charge are satisfied.<= $10,000

      Private carriers and self-insured employers may pay more than $10,000 when the greater amount is deemed reasonable or necessary; they may request supporting documentation of expenses.

    • If charges exceed $10,000, BOTH of the following must occur before any service is rendered

      • The person seeking payment provides the employee’s dependent with written notice of the exact cost of the service and the exact amount the dependent will be responsible for paying above the amount fixed by the Insurance Commissioner.

        Notice must be provided before any funeral or cemetery service is rendered.

      • The person seeking payment obtains the employee’s dependent’s written consent to pay the amount above the amount fixed by the Insurance Commissioner.

        Consent must be obtained before any funeral or cemetery service is rendered.

    Fixed Expense Amounts

    Current Amount
    Fixed reasonable funeral or cemetery expense amount$10,000 maximum
    Previous Amount
    Prior fixed funeral or cemetery expense amount$7,000

    Payment and Excess-Charge Requirements

    Billing Rule

    Apply the $10,000 funeral expense limit

    For a work-related injury causing death, pay up to $10,000 for funeral or cemetery expenses. Payment is made by the party responsible for the workers’ compensation claim to the persons furnishing the services and supplies or to those who advanced payment.

    Documentation Required

    Support payments above $10,000

    Private carriers and self-insured employers may pay more than $10,000 when the greater amount is reasonable or necessary as circumstances dictate. Supporting documentation of expenses may be requested.

    • Applies to private carriers and self-insured employers.
    • The fixed amount applies to funeral and cemetery services provided on or after July 1, 2022.
    Policy Summary
    PayerWest Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
    PolicyFuneral and Cemetery Expenses for Workers' Compensation Claims
    Policy CodePolicy 22-05
    Change TypeAmount increased and prior guidance replaced
    Effective DateJuly 1, 2022
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionPay up to $10,000 for funeral or cemetery expenses when a work-related injury causes death.
    SourceLink
    On This Page
    Funeral and Cemetery Expense ReimbursementFixed Expense AmountsPayment and Excess-Charge Requirements
    Denial Risk

    Prevent unauthorized excess charges

    Do not charge an employee’s dependents for funeral expenses that would result in a total charge above the amount fixed by the Commissioner unless both required written disclosures and written consent are obtained before any service is rendered. Knowingly and willfully violating this requirement may result in a $3,000 fine, up to 12 months’ confinement, or both.

    • Provide written notice of the exact service cost.
    • Provide written notice of the exact excess amount for which the dependent would be responsible.
    • Obtain the dependent’s written consent before services are rendered.
    Documentation Required

    Document excess-charge authorization

    Before rendering any service, provide the employee’s dependent written notice of the exact cost of the service and the exact amount the dependent would be responsible for paying above the fixed amount. Also secure the dependent’s written consent to pay that excess amount before services are rendered.

    • Written notice must state the exact service cost.
    • Written notice must state the exact excess amount.
    • Written consent must be obtained before any service is rendered.