Grantham v. Cherry Hospital

ARNOLD, Judge.

In this case we must decide if N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-29 of the Workers’ Compensation Act authorizes the Industrial Commission to order an employer to pay an employee’s common consumer debts as a “rehabilitative service.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-29 requires that “[i]n cases of total and permanent disability, compensation, including reasonable and necessary nursing services, medicines, sick travel, medical, hospital, and other treatment or care or rehabilitative services shall be paid for by the employer during the lifetime of the injured employee” (emphasis added). N.C. Gen. Stat. §…