South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission
IAIABC: Please provide an organizational overview (number of employees, years in business, vision)
Kristen McRee, Executive Director, South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission: The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission (SCWCC) is a state agency responsible for administering the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. The Commission serves employers, employees, insurance carriers, and other stakeholders across the State of South Carolina.
The agency is led by seven Commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor designates one Commissioner to serve as Chairman for a two-year term. The Commission includes both judicial and administrative divisions and employs a professional staff of 50 full-time employees dedicated to ensuring fair and efficient case management of the
approximately 60,000 claims filed annually.
The Commission’s vision is to provide timely, fair, and impartial resolution of workers’ compensation claims while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public trust. A hallmark of our organization is our commitment to service.
IAIABC: How does your organization serve the workers’ compensation industry?
KM: The Commission serves as the neutral adjudicator of disputed workers’ compensation claims in South Carolina. Our most important role is ensuring due process and balancing the rights and responsibilities of injured workers, employers, and carriers. In FY 25, the Commission’s Judicial Department staff of 3 full-time employees docketed 10,165 hearings. Collectively, the 7 Commissioners held 642 hearings during the year and served 5,893 orders.
The Commission also regulates workers’ compensation insurance coverage and compliance requirements. Because of the efforts of 5 full-time employees in the Coverage & Compliance Department, 564 employers were compelled to purchase workers’ compensation insurance policies to insure their liabilities and 3,053 previously uninsured employees became covered under the Act in FY 25.
In addition to adjudication and administration, we provide education and guidance to stakeholders to promote understanding of the system and improve outcomes for all parties.
IAIABC: What do you see as some of the major challenges the industry is facing, and how can we as a community address them?
KM: Like many jurisdictions, South Carolina faces challenges including rising medical costs, access to care, delays in treatment authorization, evolving workforce structures, and increasing complexity in claims.
Technology modernization is also a critical focus. As expectations for digital access and transparency grow, agencies must adapt systems to provide efficient service while protecting sensitive data.
Collaboration and sharing best practices with organizations like the IAIABC is essential to addressing these challenges effectively.
IAIABC: Are there any projects/programs/initiatives going on at your organization that you are particularly excited or enthusiastic about?
KM: The Commission continues to enhance its electronic case management system (eCase). Upgrades to the e-file, e-pay, and e-view capabilities are complete and offer our stakeholders the ability to electronically file documents, view clam documents online, and make payments online.
The current phases of our legacy modernization project focus on internal process improvements such as full-text search capabilities, automated workflows, and the ability for our stakeholders to cancel a scheduled hearing through the Commission’s eCase portal. We’re looking forward to implementing these advancements to more efficiently execute our mission of providing an equitable and timely system of benefits in the most responsive, accurate, and reliable manner possible.
IAIABC: What's an interesting fact about your organization that most people don't know?
KM: The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissioners are not required to be attorneys. Of the 65 Commissioners in the history of the Commission, 29 were attorneys and 36 were non-attorneys.
The longest serving Commissioner was Commissioner John W. Duncan who served a continuous 27 years on the Commission from July 17, 1935 through December 6, 1962.
IAIABC: Why is your organization a member of the IAIABC? What would you tell others about the benefits of membership?
KM: The Commission values its membership in the IAIABC because it provides a national forum for collaboration, benchmarking, and professional development.
Through the IAIABC, we gain insight into emerging trends, technology innovations, and policy discussions shaping the workers’ compensation industry nationwide. Membership strengthens our ability to serve South Carolina by learning from and contributing to a broader community of administrators and experts.