§29-12D-1. Creation of the Patient Injury Compensation Fund; purpose; initial funding of Patient Injury Compensation Fund.

(a) There is created the West Virginia Patient Injury Compensation Fund, for the purpose of providing fair and reasonable compensation to claimants in medical malpractice actions for any portion of economic damages awarded that is uncollectible as a result of limitations on economic damage awards for trauma care, or as a result of the operation of the joint and several liability principles and standards, set forth in article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code. The fund shall consist of all contributions, revenues and moneys which may be paid into the fund, from time to time, by the State of West Virginia or from any other source whatsoever, together with any and all interest, earnings, dividends, distributions, moneys or revenues of any nature whatsoever accruing to the fund.

(b) Initial funding for the fund shall be provided as follows: during fiscal year 2005, $2,200,000 of the revenues that would otherwise be transferred to the tobacco account established in subsection (b), section two, article eleven-a, chapter four of this code pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen, article three, chapter thirty-three of this code shall be transferred to the fund; during fiscal year 2006, $2,200,000 of the revenues that would otherwise be transferred to the tobacco account established in subsection (b), section two, article eleven-a, chapter four of this code pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen, article three, chapter thirty-three of this code shall be transferred to the fund; and during fiscal year 2007, $2,200,000 of the revenues that would otherwise be transferred to the tobacco account established in subsection (b), section two, article eleven-a, chapter four of this code pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen, article three, chapter thirty-three of this code shall be transferred to the fund.

(2) Beginning fiscal year 2008, if and to the extent additional funding for the fund is required, from time to time, to maintain the actuarial soundness of the fund, the additional funding may be provided by further act of the Legislature, either from the revenue stream identified in this subsection or otherwise. Payments to the tobacco fund shall be extended until the tobacco fund is repaid in full.

(c) The fund is not and shall not be considered a defendant in any civil action arising under article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code.

(d) The fund is not and shall not be considered an insurance company or insurer for any purpose under this code.

(e) Legal fees of claimants may not be recovered directly from the fund.

(f) The fund shall not provide compensation to claimants who file a claim with the Patient Injury Compensation Fund on or after July 1, 2016.