More people, higher pay needed to help NC families get closure after a loved one's death

As North Carolina grows, the number of people who need autopsies is growing, too. But the number of workers to perform those autopsies is shrinking.

Delays in getting death certificates in those cases can make it difficult for families to find closure or even arrange funerals or collect life insurance.

Dr. ClarLynda Williams-DeVane with the Division of Public Health says the state isn’t funding the system adequately. Autopsy providers are losing money on every state case they take.

"Right now our reimbursement rate in North Carolina is $2,800 and that was to in statute in 2015. The actual cost of an autopsy is about $5,800," she said.

North Carolina only pays its forensic pathologists a little more than half the national average, but their workload is more than double the industry standard, leading to lengthy delays in closing cases.

Lawmakers also heard Tuesday from Jason Thompson, medical examiner for Johnston, Harnett and Franklin counties. He told the story of a woman who lost her infant son more than a year ago and is still waiting to learn what caused his death.

"When I talk with the pathologist, they basically say, 'I've got a stack this high and, you know, I'll get to him when I can get to him.' So that's the heartache, and that's the hardest part of my job," Thompson said. "The lady texts me once a week, says 'Can you tell me why Connor passed away?' and after a year, I can't tell her that."

Both Thompson and Williams-DeVane said the state's new electronic death certificate registry is helping to speed things up for cases that do not require an autopsy.

Willams-DeVane said even with additional funding for salaries, fixing the problem will likely take some time.

Medical schools nationwide simply aren't turning out enough forensic pathologists to meet the need.