The North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) Annual Educational Conference is now taking place in Raleigh. The three-day conference is taking place through Friday, October 9 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The conference covers every aspect of North Carolina workers’ compensation law. Valerie Johnson presented on Wednesday, October 8, concerning the newest Industrial Commission Rules, along with Executive Secretary Meredith Henderson and Julia Dixon of Young Moore and Henderson, PA.
Some changes to existing Industrial Commission Rules were mandated by a bill that was passed by the North Carolina Legislature, SB 794. That bill eliminated many rules and required the NCIC to pass new ones, including changes to the costs and fees charged by the Commission. Over the past year, the NCIC has changed many rules that affect the way plaintiffs’ cases will be handled. Those new rules must be approved before they become effective. The next hearing on proposed rules will be before the Rules Review Commission on October 16 and will take effect on November 1 unless 10 written objections are filed.
In addition to changing costs and fees, some fees for form agreements will be eliminated. The medical motions procedure has been changed to clarify rights of appeal and to allow for written medical motions before the Office of the Executive Secretary, as well as to continue the current practice of quick hearings before a deputy commissioner on necessary medical treatment.