Will new health plan affect workers' comp in North Carolina?

• kbunn's blog

The short answer is yes, but right now there is no way to know exactly how.  There have been estimates that workers' compensation payments account for about 3% of the total spending on medical treatment nationwide.  Congress focused on the big issues here, and to my knowledge did not specifically address workers' comp in North Carolina, or otherwise.  There will certainly be some indirect effect of this new legislation on injured North Carolina workers.  To the extent that the new plan reduces chronic illnesses and conditions like obesity that often combine with workplace injuries to create a disability, it will certainly help.  Same thing with reducing medical errors.  A more real change may be in providing injured workers the opportunity to keep their health coverage after losing their jobs.  We shall see.

For question about NC workers' or workmans compensation injuries or claims, feel free to call for your free consultation.

Kevin Bunn, North Carolina Workers' Comp. Attorney.