by Larry Baker
NORTH CAROLINA -Pursuant to Rule 11 NCAC 23E .0203(a)(2), an employer or their insurance carrier is required to pay the $200 Report of Mediator fee in full upon receipt of an invoice from the Industrial Commission. Ensuring timely payment of Report of Mediator fees is an important element of the mediation process and is essential to the Commission’s ability to fund its operations.
To provide clarity on the payment due date while giving employers and carriers adequate time to pay the invoiced fee, effective February 8, 2025, the Industrial Commission will allow employers and carriers 30 days from the invoice date within which to pay the invoice and avoid a statutory late payment penalty and interest. (Previously, the Commission had set the payment due date as 7 days from the deadline for completing mediation or 7 days from the date mediation was completed, whichever was earlier. However, the Commission has determined that pairing the payment due date with a future event that could be rescheduled is not optimal for the Commission or its stakeholders).
As a reminder, the Industrial Commission emails Report of Mediator fee invoices at the time the mediator is appointed. The Report of Mediator invoice is sent to defense counsel by email shortly after the Appointment of Mediator Order is emailed. Upon receipt of the Report of Mediator invoice, the $200 fee can be paid online via credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or e-Check. A link for online payment is provided in the email. The $200 fee also may be paid by paper check mailed to the Commission, but parties are strongly encouraged to pay online via credit card or e-Check.