Workers' Comp Agency Proud of Accomplishments

On their own Web Site, North Carolina Workers' Comp is reported to be the 8th Lowest (cheapest) in the country for the Employer. Insurance Base Rates were reduced in 1996 by a total of 38.9%. That's Eighth from the Top for your Employer and Eighth from the Bottom for the Injured Worker.

If Workers' Comp liability is denied, and the injured or occupationally sick worker request a hearing, the Doctors and Medical Providers can not collect for medical charges until the Industrial Commission makes a decision. The Medical Provider must wait 3-5 years for their money and now their charges are being reduced by an average of 11%.

Chairman Bunn said the Industrial Commission is proud of its accomplishments; however, the future is filled with challenges.
 
In a televised interview about chemically injured workers, Chairman Bun said "They Can Expect A great deal of opposition from the other side of the picture".

If you are involved in a Workers Compensation case...your time will be well spent searching the Industrial Commission Web Site. The Industrial Commission does have an excellent Web Page. Go to NCIC Home Page .

In North Carolina (if employer or their insurance company denies liability) you can expect No Help with your Medical Bills until after a decision is made by the Industrial Commission. This can take 5 years or more.

Hire an Attorney.
You will be expected to pay for certain expenses.
Ask your Attorney about these expenses and when they are due.
 

N.C. State Auditor Ralph Campbell Jr. released a performance audit report on 10 February 1996 on the Workers' Compensation Program in North Carolina as administered by the N.C. Industrial Commission. While a number of recommendations resulted from the audit, the report commended the agency for being receptive to procedural recommendations in the report.

In March, 1996, North Carolina Workers' Compensation Insurance Base Rates were reduced by 15% and were further reduced by 13.9% in October 1996. The state now enjoys the eighth-lowest workers' compensation costs in the country (according to National Underwriter magazine)--and continued cost containment and medical fee schedule reductions should see this downward trend continue.

Revised (downward) the workers' compensation medical fee schedule. The Commission found that Georgia and South Carolina had fee schedules 12 to 16% lower than North Carolina's, that the six states with similar costs of producing medical services had fee schedules 13 to 27% lower that ours, and the two major private payers in the state had schedules that average 14% lower. The Commission adopted a Fee Schedule that will result in an overall reduction in medical fees of 11% (reducing surgery charges by 8% and Radiology by 20%). This reduction, estimated to be between $40-50 million, will impact employers with future lower workers' compensation rates.

Chairman Bunn said the Industrial Commission is proud of its accomplishments; however, the future is filled with challenges.

"Seven decades after the passage of North Carolina's Workers' Compensation Act, we look to the future seeing North Carolina surging economically, growing and moving into a new era of change.

"Our goal is to continue improving a system that has provided North Carolina's industry and laborers protection and stability to successfully move through the changing era of industrialization into the Computer Age and now into a new century."