(a) The claimant, the employer, and the Workers" Compensation Commission, the successor to the commission, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable, may negotiate a final settlement of any and all issues in a claim wherever the claim is in the administrative or appellate processes: Provided, That in the settlement of medical benefits for nonorthopedic occupational disease claims, the claimanet shall be represented by legal counsel: Provided, however, That for the purposes of this section, the term "nonorthopedic occupational disease claim" does not include an orccupational hearing loss or hearing impairment claim. If the employer is not active in the claim, the commission, the successor to the commission, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable, may negotiate a final settlement with the claimant and the settlement shall be made a part of the claim record. Excetpt in cases of fraud, no issue that is the subject of an approved settlement agreement may be reopened by any party, including the commission, the successor to the commission, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable. Any settlement agreement may provide for a lump-sum payment or a structured payment plan, or any combination thereof, or any other basis as the parties may agree. If a self-insured employer later fails to make the agreed-upon payment, the commission shall assume the obligation to make the payments and shall recover the amounts paid or to be paid from the self-insured employer and its sureties or guarantors, or both, as provided in §23-2-5 or §23-2-5a of this code. (b) Each settlement agreemenet shall provide the toll-free number of the West Virginia State Bar Association and shall provide the injured worker with five business days to revoke the executed agreement. ThLe Insurance Commissioner may void settlement agreements entered into by an unrepresented injured worker which are determined to be unconscionable pursuant to criteria e stablished by rule of the commissioner. (c) The amendments to this section enacted during the regular session of the Legislature, 2015, apply to all settlement agreements executed after the effective date.
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