N.C. Industrial Commission Latest News & Information
NCIC Fraud Section Participates in Investigation of
PEO That Results in Federal Fraud Indictments
The Industrial Commission’s Fraud Section Criminal Investigation Unit participated in an investigation of a professional employer organization (PEO) in North Carolina with the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The investigation resulted in multiple federal fraud indictments against Arthur S. Weiss. READ MORE at this link.
N.C. Industrial Commission Publishes Proposed Rule Changes
In compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act, the North Carolina Industrial Commission has published proposed changes to its rules. The Notice of Rulemaking, the text of the proposed rules, and the fiscal impact analysis can be found here.. A public hearing on the rules changes will be held on August 6, 2012, beginning at 9:00 am in Room 2173 of the Dobbs Building located at 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603.
N.C. Industrial Commission Announces EDI Trading Partner Training Dates
1. Claims (FROI/SROI) Trading Partner Training: 11th September 2012.
2. Medical Billing Trading Partner Training: 6th November 2012.
For details, click here.
17th Annual N.C. Workers' Comp Educational Conference
The N.C. Industrial Commission will hold its 17th Annual
North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference on
October 10-12, 2012, at the Raleigh Convention
Center in Raleigh, NC. Click here for a fillable conference Registration Form,
here for a fillable Exhibitor/Sponsor Registration Form,
and here for the complete Conference brochure.
For more information, please contact Jeanne Bush at the International
Workers’ Compensation Foundation office at (386) 677-0041; fax (386) 677-0155; e-mail
iwcf@bellsouth.net; or
write the IWCF, 570 Memorial Circle, Suite 320, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
Industrial Commission's Rules Update
In accordance with HB 709, the Commission began working diligently on the prospect of being subject to the Administrative Procedure Act even prior to ratification of the legislation on June 24, 2011. In addition to the passage of HB 709, SB 781 became law on July 25, 2011. The Commission took aggressive steps to understand the implications of SB 781 and what requirements would be placed on the Commission to comply with HB 709 and SB 781.
A rules committee was formed at the end of July, and the first meeting was held on August 3, 2011. One of the first steps taken by the rules committee was to seek outside input on the rules from both external stakeholders and internal stakeholders, requesting parties to propose changes to existing rules and to propose changes made necessary by HB 709. Upon receipt of all proposals, the information was compiled and the committee met on a weekly basis to review every rule found in existence in our statute book. We continued to correspond with OAH and OSBM, as was necessary for furthering our understanding of the process, even meeting with OAH in early September of 2011. The rules committee, along with various other individuals within the Commission, attended a CLE offered by OAH and OSBM to ensure a proper understanding of the process and procedures for rule adoption under HB 709 and SB 781. Furthermore, all of the rules as revised by the rules committee underwent a preliminary review with OAH prior to completion of fiscal notes to minimize technical errors.
The Commission is presently finalizing the fiscal notes and a packet will be submitted to OSBM for review
in accordance with SB 781. The Commission would like to offer a thank you to all of the external stakeholders
that have provided suggestions during this process and who have responded to our deadlines. We continue to
pursue a very aggressive timeline in order to accomplish the task set forth in HB 709.
NCIC Adopts CPT Codes Released by the American Medical Association
The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted current
procedural terminology (CPT) codes pursuant to the new 2012 release by the American Medical Association,
as well as the deletion of certain codes.
Notification of Contempt Hearing Docket
A calendar has been filed for the May 22, 2012 Contempt Hearing Docket before Deputy
Commissioner George R. Hall, III and may be found at the following link:
http://www.ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/0522hall.pdf.
Notification of Uninsured Employer Penalty Hearing Docket
N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-93(a) requires
employers in the State of North Carolina to carry insurance or prove financial ability to pay for
benefits available under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The Industrial Commission reviews claims
filed by injured workers to determine the employer’s insurance status. If the employer is determined
to be uninsured, the employer will receive this
letter and be placed on a hearing docket.
NCIC Adopts a New Medical Provider Fee Dispute Resolution Procedure
The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted a new
Medical Provider Fee Dispute Resolution Procedure, pursuant to
N.C. Gen. Stat. §97-26(i).
Electronic Document and Fee Portal [EDFP] To Become MANDATORY
On October 31, 2011, the Industrial Commission implemented an Electronic Document and Fee Portal [EDFP] which allows users to simultaneously upload and electronically pay for the submission of Compromise Settlement Agreements and Forms 21, 24, 26 and 26A. This filing process will become MANDATORY in the future for all identified documents. Plans are to eliminate all filing processes other than EDFP for these documents.
Any feedback regarding the EDFP process may be sent to edfpfeedback@ic.nc.gov. A tutorial regarding the EDFP may be found at the following location: http://www.ic.nc.gov/training.html.
Compromise Settlement Agreements and Forms 21, 24, 26,
and 26A Will Be Payable Online, Effective October 31, 2011
Effective October 31, 2011, Compromise Settlement Agreements (Clinchers), and Forms 21, 24, 26, and 26A may be uploaded and electronically paid through a new Industrial Commission Electronic Document and Fee Portal (web portal).
This new feature will require document submitters to first obtain an NCID (North Carolina ID). Obtaining the NCID can be done via https://ccms.ic.nc.gov/PRODNcicAppCheck/ by clicking on “Don’t Have an NCID? Click Here.” Prevent delays in uploading documents by applying today for an NCID.
After obtaining your NCID, on
https://ccms.ic.nc.gov/PRODNcicAppCheck/,
click “Request Authorization to Access NCIC Applications.” On the Application Security Request Page, enter
your NCID and click Submit. You will receive an e-mail notification after the appropriate
security permissions have been assigned.
NCIC Invoices Are Payable Online
Effective September 30, 2011, the North Carolina Industrial Commission’s invoices
are payable online. Electronic checks and credit cards (MasterCard and VISA) will be
accepted. The payor must have the Invoice Number and I.C. File Number available, and
can access the Pay Online option from the LINKS menu option on the Industrial
Commission Home Page (http://www.ic.nc.gov/).
NCIC Adopts CPT Codes for Billing for Physician Interaction with Case Managers
The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted CPT Codes for billing for physician interaction with
case managers. Click here to read the
June 23, 2011 Minutes.
The Workers’ Compensation Act Has Been Modified as of June 24, 2011
House Bill 709 was signed by Governor Beverly Perdue and became effective as law on June 24, 2011. See
House Bill 709
for changes to Chapter 97—Workers’ Compensation Act
Industrial Commission Adopts New Electronic Transcripts Policy
The N.C. Industrial Commission announces that effective July 21, 2011, only
electronic transcripts and exhibits will be forwarded to the legal representative
for parties appealing to the Full Commission. Pro se parties will continue
to receive a paper copy of the transcript through the U.S. Mail. The parties are
responsible for calculating the due dates of Briefs and Form 44s in accordance
with Rule 701(4) of the Workers’ Compensation Rules of the N.C. Industrial
Commission, and Rule T305 of the Tort Claims Rules of the N.C. Industrial Commission.
NCIC Adopts Mandatory Requirement for Rehabilitation Professionals
The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted a mandatory requirement for Rehabilitation Professionals.
Effective July 1, 2011, every Rehabilitation Professional providing rehabilitation services shall
be required to complete the comprehensive course entitled Workers' Compensation Case Management
in NC: A Basic Primer for Medical and Vocational Case Managers, in order to be recognized as
"Qualified" under Section IV of the NCIC Rules
for Rehabilitation Professionals. Click here to read the
March 17, 2011 Minutes. For information
on class availability through the Carolinas Chapter of the International Association of Rehabilitation
Professionals (IARP),please contact Jane Rouse or Jodie Nolf with Southern Rehab Network at 919-781-3149
or 800-772-8914; or send an e-mail to jane.rouse@southernrehab.net or
jodie.nolf@southernrehab.net.
NCIC Will Require Carriers and Providers to Adopt Electronic Medical Billing and Payment Processes
The North Carolina Industrial Commission will require carriers and providers to adopt electronic
medical billing and payment processes, and will promulgate rules for the implementation of this requirement.
Click here to read the June 14, 2011 Minutes.
Industrial Commission Adopts the 2011 CPT Codes for Its Medical Fee Schedule
The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted the 2011 CPT Codes for its
Medical Fee Schedule,
effective January 1, 2011. Click here
to read the April 28, 2011 Minutes.
Electronic Submission of Forms 18 and 19
The North Carolina Industrial Commission now offers online fillable versions of the Employee’s
Notice of Accident (Form 18) and Employer’s
Report of Employee’s Injury (Form 19), and
direct electronic submission of the completed forms.
Visit the Forms page for more information.
Master List of Cases for Docketing
The Master List of workers' compensation cases identified for
docketing before the Deputy Commissioner Section is updated four times each month.
CLICK HERE for the latest update on the Dockets Page.
Archived News
Click Here for Older News Items
Older News Items and other links are Archived after 90 days. Clicking the link above will take you to the Archive page.
N.C. Industrial Commission Annual Bulletin
The N.C. Industrial Commission annual Bulletin is available, effective April 1, 2011.
Please
CLICK HERE to view the Bulletin.