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Workers Comp Coverage Info Did North Carolina Make Public (Again)?

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North Carolina Workers Comp Coverage Still Private

The North Carolina Legislature decided just a few months to ban all public disclosure of Workers Comp coverage info records.  At that time, it really did not make sense to me when I can pull up Workers Comp policy information in so many states.

Graphic map of North Carolina Workers Comp Coverage records
123RF

I could understand the concern if something akin to medical information on a certain injured employee was accessed online.  Going from almost full disclosure to an outright ban on WC coverage information really does not make that much sense to me.

As I mentioned in previous posts, if it not were not for the previous partial disclosure, the newspaper reporter would not have uncovered over 30,000 uninsured companies in North Carolina.    The NC Industrial Commission used to have a spiffy website where anyone (especially an injured employee) could research what company to contact about a WC claim that needed to be filed or one that was already filed with the Commission.

That site was swiftly taken down after the passage of  SB 237 in March.   With states such as California and West Virginia (and many more states) allowing at least limited access to policy info, I had thought North Carolina would have rebooted the access web page eventually.

Picture Man Placing Finger on His Lips Workers Comp Coverage Still Private
StockUnlimited

Over the weekend, I read an article that pointed out the push by certain officials calling for the access to info being allowed as it was in the past.   This may have been a case of the NC Legislature passing bills before thinking through the full impact of the new legislation.

One could agree that this access should not be allowed by anyone with a computer.  However, it has functioned very well in other states.  California’s rating bureau – the WCIRB – started to allow online access to Workers Comp policy info last year.  I have yet to see any backlash from the full access.

In my humble opinion, the access harms no companies or individuals except possibly the 30,000 Workers Comp scofflaw companies that have still not been reigned in for their actions.  The Workers Comp Coverage Info for that group remains critical.

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James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

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