Independent appeals of ACC cases welcomed

Auckland May 18 – An independent Disputes Resolution Service will bring a long overdue clarity to appeals against ACC decisions to reject noise induced hearing loss injury claims, the National Foundation for the Deaf said today.

ACC Minister Nick Smith announced yesterday the service, which is owned and funded by ACC, will become an independent Crown Company on July 1, but Foundation Chief Executive Louise Carroll said more steps were needed to bring complete confidence to the resolution process.

“We congratulate the Government on this move,” Mrs Carroll said.

“It is something we have wanted for a long time and something we have raised with the minister.

“It will mean more transparency for people appealing against ACC decisions, including decisions denying cover for workplace hearing injuries.”

However, Mrs Carroll said more work was needed to give claimants full confidence in the Disputes Resolution Service.

“In supporting people disputing ACC decisions around the country we have seen cases with almost identical features being handled differently in different centres and we need to see more consistency in the way cases are handled,” she said.

“However, making the service independent is a vital first step, and the government deserves credit for taking on board the concerns of those who use the service, and doing something about it.”

Ends

© Scoop Media