Compensation Conference Policy

THE LANGUAGE USED IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE AGENCY. THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. NO PROMISES OR ASSURANCES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CREATE ANY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.

EXHIBIT E
If Impairment Remains After Completion of Medical Treatment for a Work Injury

Purpose of Workers' Compensation Conference

This informal conference is scheduled for the purpose of allowing you, a representative of your employer, and a representative of the Workers’ Compensation Commission to discuss the end results of your injury and the courses open at this time for protection of your rights to compensation. Conferences of this type are in order in cases where the employer accepts liability for the injury. Compensation has been paid to you for any wages lost during the time you were out of work due to the injury; and you have been furnished medical care as needed to restore you as nearly as possible to your former state of health and physical ability.

The doctor responsible for your medical care has reported that the healing of your injury is at a point considered to be the maximum of healing which can be promoted through medical treatment. Therefore, if you are not restored to your former health and physical ability, you may be entitled to some additional compensation. It may be that you have no physical impairment, but there are scars or other physical changes which are seriously disfiguring for which compensation is due and payable.

At the conference, the representative of the Workers’ Compensation Commission will review what the doctor has said about your present physical condition and how this relates to the injury; he will talk with you about how you feel about your present physical condition; and he will view any scars or changes in physical appearance resulting from the injury.

Each party, (the employer's representative, you, and the commission representative), is free to express his opinion and view of the claim. If these views are in accord, a settlement of your claim may be reached. That is, if the amount of compensation is agreeable to all parties, a  settlement agreement is effected and all compensation agreed upon is paid. Further, you may be entitled to future medical treatment pursuant to the opinions of the authorized treating physician. If so, the settlement agreement will specifically detail any future medical treatment to which you may be entitled. Such a settlement also potentially allows you to re-open your claim if your condition worsens within one year from the date the settlement proceeds are paid to you.

Should the compensation discussed at the conference not be acceptable to either party, there are other means by which a workers’ compensation claim can be closed. If you are the party that is not satisfied, say so. The claim can then be brought to a hearing and you will have your claim ruled upon according to the evidence produced and the Law. A hearing is a formal legal proceeding. The evidence will be presented in sworn testimony and the determination of the Hearing Commissioner will be rendered in writing. You may or may not be represented by counsel. The determination handed down by the Hearing Commissioner is subject to appeal by either party.

The above is not a full complete statement of the Workers' Compensation Act but is designed to inform you generally concerning your rights and the purpose of the scheduled conference. All known factors of your claim will be discussed at the conference, and should you have other questions concerning your rights, the commission representative will be glad to hear them.

South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission