Update from the North Carolina Industrial Commission
Revised Guidelines for In-Person Industrial Commission Hearings
The Industrial Commission has revised its in-person hearing guidelines to reflect the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In-Person Deputy Commissioner Hearing Guidelines
Any person with symptoms of COVID-19 who has not had a COVID-19 viral test following onset of symptoms shall not attend an in-person hearing and shall contact the Deputy Commissioner.
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has had symptoms of COVID-19 shall not attend an in-person hearing and shall contact the Deputy Commissioner unless at least 5 days have passed since symptom onset and 24 hours with no fever and without the use of fever-reducing medications has passed and other COVID-19 symptoms are improving. Additionally, any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has had symptoms of COVID-19 shall wear a high-quality mask while attending any in-person Industrial Commission hearing for an additional 5 days after the end of the isolation period.
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 but has had no symptoms of COVID-19 shall not attend an in-person Industrial Commission hearing and shall not contact the Deputy Commissioner unless at least 5 days have passed.
Any person who has no symptoms of COVID-19 and has not tested positive for COVID-19 but who has, at any time during the 10-day period prior to an in-person Industrial Commission hearing, had a known contact with another person who has COVID-19 shall wear a high-quality mask at all times during the hearing.
Read the full list of revised in-person Industrial Commission hearings here.
In-Person Full Commission Hearing Guidelines
Any person with symptoms of COVID-19 who has not had a COVID-19 viral test following onset of the symptoms shall not attend an in-person Full Commission hearing and shall contact Counsel to the Panel Chair.
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has had symptoms of COVID-19 shall not attend an in-person Full Commission hearing and shall contact Counsel to the Panel Chair unless at least 5 days have passed since symptom onset and 24 hours with no fever and without the use of fever-reducing medications has passed and other COVID-19 symptoms are improving. Additionally, any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has had symptoms of COVID-19 shall wear a high-quality mask while attending any in-person Full Commission hearing for an additional 5 days after the end of the isolation period.
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 but has had no symptoms of COVID-19 shall not attend an in-person Full Commission hearing and shall contact Counsel to the Panel Chair unless at least 5 days have passed since the positive COVID-19 test.
Any person who has no symptoms of COVID-19 and has not tested positive for COVID-19 but who has, at any time during the 10-day period prior to an in-person Full Commission hearing, had a known contact with another person who has COVID-19 shall wear a high-quality mask at all times during the in-person Full Commission hearing.
Read the full list of revised in-person Full Commission hearings here.
Important Memo to All Carriers, Third-Party Administrators, and Self-Insured Employers: Rule 11 NCAC 23A.0109(d) Requirement to Provide Commission with General Email Address for Service of Claim-Related Documents
Pursuant to Rule 11 NCAC 23A.0109(d), all carriers, third-party administrators, and self-insured employers are required to provide the Commission with an email address for service of claim-related documents in cases where the Commission does not have email contact information for a specific representative assigned to the claim. The Rule requires a general email address for receipt of letters and notices related to claims when the Commission has NOT been advised of a specific person handling the claim. Once the Commission has been advised of a specific representative assigned to the claim, correspondence regarding the claim will be sent directly to that person.