Schedule subject to change
Pre-Conference Symposium
Selecting the Best Tools for Your Workers’ Compensation Program
Carla Cirelli Wynn, Director, Workers' Compensation Programs, Global Risk Management,
ARAMARK, Philadelphia
Tron Emptage, Executive Vice President, Progressive Medical, Westerville, Ohio
Celeste Player, Pharm.D., Senior Director, Clinical - Workers’ Compensation, Express Scripts,
St. Louis
Jim Pocius, Shareholder, Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, Philadelphia
Rusty Watts, Partner, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, Atlanta
Tuesday, Nov. 9 | 1 - 5 p.m.
A multitude of tools are available to aid your workers’ comp program. Drug screening, pharmacy benefit managers, advice on illegal immigrants, and niche software may be lifesavers for some companies, but unnecessary expenses for others. Our panel of experts will guide you through the identification, evaluation and cost benefit analysis of available solutions. They’ll leave you with the top 10 questions you should ask to determine whether a particular idea is practical for your organization.
Opening General Session
Needle-Moving States: Developments That Drive the Nation
Christine Baker, Executive Officer, California Commission on Health and Safety
and Workers' Compensation, Oakland
Rod Bordelon, Commissioner, Workers’ Compensation Division, Texas
Department of Insurance, Austin
Elizabeth Crum , Deputy Secretary for Compensation and Insurance, Pennsylvania Department
Labor & Industry, Harrisburg, Pa.
Tanner Holloman, Director, Division of Workers’ Compensation, Florida Department
of Financial Services, Tallahassee
Additional panelists to be named
Moderator: Mark Noonan, Managing Principal, Casualty Practice, Integro Insurance Brokers,
Boston
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 8:45 - 10 a.m.
Many of the major trends in workers’ compensation start in particular states. What decisions are being made now that could impact the system for years to come? Find out, when our panel of high-ranking insurance officials from key states discusses the latest developments and the potential exponential effects on the industry.
Awards Luncheon
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Join us in honoring the winners of Risk & Insurance® Magazine’s best workers’ compensation programs of the year in the federal and private sectors. Recognizing excellence and innovation in the workers’ comp and disability communities, these awards honor President Theodore Roosevelt, who pioneered the first federal workers’ compensation legislation in the United States. |
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| Awards Sponsored by: |
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Luncheon Entertainment
The Agile Comedy of Chris Bliss
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 1:15 - 2 p.m.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the special entertainment of Chris Bliss, who Jay Leno calls “one of the brightest comedians around.” Chris delivers smart comedy for the information age. Insightful humor, capped off with a world-class finale you won’t forget! |
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General Session
Doing More With Less: Lessons Learned From the Recession
Richard Pimentel, Senior Partner, Milt Wright & Associates, Granada Hills, Calif.
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 8:45 - 10 a.m.
With the economy poised to rebound, many companies trying to grow their bottom lines remain cautious about hiring. Businesses that do expand their workforces will have more inexperienced employees. Either scenario can be a recipe for increased claims activity. How can employers protect themselves? Richard Pimentel, a popular speaker and prominent voice in workers’ comp and disability, will assess the opposing forces at play and show you how to apply lessons learned from the recession to the new economy. |
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CM1 |
Fundamentals of Claims Management: How to Stay Focused Despite Rapid-Fire Changes |
Darrell Brown, Workers’ Compensation Practice Lead, Sedgwick CMS, Long Beach, Calif.
Ron Thackery, SVP Professional Services & Integration, Emergency Medical Services,
Rogers, Ark.
Session Level: 101
Session Type: Interactive
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Healthcare reform, new Medicare reporting requirements, advances in technology and steadily increasing medical costs have changed the landscape of workers’ comp claims. Our speakers, representing a TPA and an employer, will show you how to identify key cost drivers, better integrate claims resources and achieve faster reporting, plus field your questions throughout the session. You’ll walk away with the tools you need to get the best outcomes in the face of the ever-changing workers' comp environment.
CM2 |
External Medical Issues: What You Don’t Know Will Cost You |
Joseph Paduda, Principal, Health Strategy Associates, Madison, Conn.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Healthcare reform and Medicare changes are converging on the workers’ comp arena with significant ramifications. Hospital/facility costs take one-third of the workers’ comp medical dollar, and pharmacy costs represent 15 percent. Reform gives more Americans access to healthcare, removing an incentive for cost shifting to workers’ comp. Medicare physician compensation is slated to drop by 21.5 percent, dramatically impacting fee-schedule states, and a new independent Medicare review board could make cost-containment pilot programs permanent without slogging through Congressional approval. Mr. Paduda will highlight the issues, and give you strategies to mitigate and contain costs in light of these new pressures.
CM3 |
Best of the Best: Winners of the 2010 Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Awards |
Moderator: Yolanda Romero, Director of Workers’ Compensation, Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia
Session Level: All
Session Type: Interactive
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 2:45 - 4 p.m.
The economy has created tough challenges in the workers’ compensation and disability fields during the past year. But some companies still manage to rise to the occasion. Find out what makes some workers’ comp and disability programs survive and thrive, regardless of the environment. You’ll have a chance to hear from, and question, this year’s winners of Risk & Insurance® magazine’s prestigious awards in this popular interactive session.
CM4 |
Will You Still Need Me When I'm 64? Workers’ Comp for an Aging Workforce |
Eva LaBonte, Risk and Benefits Analyst, Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Ore.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The increasing age of the workforce has heightened the severity of workers’ comp claims. Find out how to gain control of these claims while retaining the invaluable skills that older employees bring to the table. A claims expert for the past 17 years, Ms. LaBonte will show you how to assess the risks that cause injuries to older workers. She’ll delve into the American Society of Safety Engineers’ recommendations that enable older workers to maximize productivity and reduce injuries. Plus, you’ll learn how to conduct a root cause analysis to clarify the compensability of an older worker’s injury claim and get strategies to implement effective loss-control tools.
CM5 |
60 Cost Containment Tips in 60 Minutes |
Cynde Bunch, Chairman of the Board, Bunch & Associates, Lakeland, Fla.
Peggy Crook, Director, Global Claims, Hilton Worldwide, New York City
Allison Hanson, MBA, Senior Account Executive, The ALARIS Group, Inc., Cedarburg, Wisc.
Dr. Albert Mitsos, Forensic Expert, Chicago
Chris Scheldrup, Attorney, Sheldrup Blades, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Moderator: Matthew B. Schiff, Partner, Schiff & Hulbert, Chicago
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Imagine having 60 great ideas at your fingertips to expedite your claims closing process. That’s exactly what you’ll get in this fast-paced, round-robin session. Join experts in the fields of human resources, vocational rehabilitation, claims management, occupational medicine and workers’ compensation law as they outline their best strategies — each within 60 seconds. You’ll find it fun, insightful and useful.
CM6 |
Return to Work: A Case Management Approach to Save You Money |
Richard Pimentel, Senior Partner, Milt Wright & Associates, Granada Hills, Calif.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
The roles and responsibilities of claims managers can have a significant cost-saving impact on an employer’s workers’ comp program. By looking at the claims process and changing your relationships with case managers, medical providers and the injured worker, you can bring about an expedited, effective return to work process. What do you need to do differently and how can you work closely with a case manager to make this happen? Mr. Pimentel will provide the answers.
CM7 |
Cut Your Costs by Expediting Medical Care |
Milt Wright, Founder and President, Milt Wright & Associates, Granada Hills, Calif.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Discussion
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
The latest thinking among some workers’ comp stakeholders is that revving up medical care to injured workers is the best way to help them recover and get back on the job faster. But how do you do that in the face of economic pressures? Mr. Wright will help you find new ways to provide better, faster medical care — and actually save money. He’ll outline several scenarios involving injured workers, give you time to work with your fellow attendees in small groups, then work with the entire audience to develop cost-saving solutions.
CM8 |
Red Flags: What They Are and What to Do About Them |
Julie Sfurm, Corporate Risk Operations Manager, Elkay Manufacturing, Oak Brook, Ill.
Session Level: 101
Session Type: Interactive
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
When does a claim get to the point of warranting legal intervention? What about nurse case management — what’s the deciding factor for bringing in that aspect? Understanding the red flag moments in the life of a claim can save you time, money and frustration. Ms. Sfurm, a 20-year workers’ comp veteran with experience on the TPA and employer sides, will outline a variety of red flags — and the corrective actions to take before it's too late.
CM9 |
Leave Stacking: Managing Multiple Leave Entitlements Simultaneously |
Linda D. Southard, President, Work & Well, Inc., Somerville, N.J.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Discussion
Friday, Nov. 12 | 8:45 - 10 a.m.
Workers’ comp, short- and long-term disability, family medical leave, state family leave, the ADAAA, occupational, non-occupational — managing all these types of leave can be hair-raising. Leave stacking is unavoidable. The trick is knowing how to handle multiple leaves simultaneously and avoid the pitfalls. Bringing her nearly 20 years of experience in leave management to the table, Ms. Southard will provide an overview of the latest laws and rules, then give you a chance to figure it out. Through a series of scenarios, she’ll show you specific strategies to better handle common leave-stacking situations.
CM10 |
Controlling Your WC Claims Through Acute Injury Management |
Lisa Wulderk, RN, Medical Services Supervisor/Medical Case Manager, The SRS Group LLC, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Friday, Nov. 12 | 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Using a system of early intervention, a patient care coordinator and an acute injury management program, our speaker says you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can gain control of your claims. Ms. Wulderk will address the state-to-state issues faced in directing care in workers’ comp cases and leave you with great handouts to help you start your own program. Whether you’re new to workers’ comp or a high-level risk manager, you’ll learn strategies for immediate cost savings.
DA1 |
Closing the Safety Loop: Driving Actions Based on Data Collection |
Andrew Pelcin, Director of Decision Support, ARAMARK, Philadelphia
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Why have your front-line managers spend unnecessary time and energy trying to figure out how to keep employees injury free? Instead, use root cause analysis to customize best practices for your company’s needs. Dr. Pelcin will outline case studies from ARAMARK and show you the process his company has implemented — from data collection and use, to determining the problem and solution, to telling managers what they need to do. You’ll learn how to eliminate the guesswork and get your field managers to take the actions that will get results.
DA2 |
Connecting the Dots: Harnessing Your Data for Cost Containment |
Patricia Hostine, M.A., M.B.A., Corporate Manager, Workers’ Compensation, Cooper
Standard Automotive, Novi, Mich.
Steven M. Krile, HSE, Information Manager, Cooper Standard Automotive, Novi, Mich.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Interactive
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Data comes flying at us every day from many sources — number of injuries, dollars spent, lost time, average accrual, reserve changes, etc. It’s difficult to take a step back and decide what we want to know and what our internal customers need to know. These two professionals from the automotive industry have built a system that brings together all of this data into a simple, meaningful and sustainable system. After leading a group gap analysis, they’ll reveal secrets of their ground-breaking approach to data management. Then, they’ll show you what data really matters, where to find it, and how to talk to IT folks so you get the results you need.
DA3 |
Efficacy of Predictive Modeling in Workers’ Comp Claims: The United Airlines Story |
John Smolk, Manager, Workers’ Compensation Programs, United Airlines, Chicago
Srivatsan Sridharan, Senior Vice President, Marsh, Chicago
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Using predictive modeling to identify potentially expensive claims early in the process can result in significant cost savings. The trick is to find the model that’s best for your organization. United Airlines recently went through the process by evaluating several predictive modeling tools and the accuracy of each. Our speakers will outline the challenges they faced, the tools’ accuracy, and application of the model — giving you strategies to leverage your data and manage costs.
DA4 |
How to Manage Medical Data to Gain Efficiency and Better Claims Outcomes |
Karen Wolfe, President/CEO, MedMetrics, LLC, Bend, Ore.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Friday, Nov. 12 | 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Unprecedented new efficiencies, improved outcomes and cost accountability can be created by exploiting your historic and current medical data. Rather than crafting lists and graphic representations, Ms. Wolfe will discuss how to infuse your operation with new knowledge and useful electronic tools. The key is to translate the results of data analysis to accessible, easily understood, and easily executed operational tools that optimize expediency, accuracy and decision support. You’ll walk away knowing how to take these initiatives and implement them in specific settings.
LR1 |
Medicare Setasides/SCHIP Summit Meeting |
Chris Carpenter, President, MedAllocators, Inc., Duluth, Ga.
Kenneth Paradis, CEO, Crowe Paradis Services Corporation, North Reading, Mass.
Jim Pocius, Shareholder, Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, Philadelphia
Kent Takemoto, M.D., President, PMSI Settlement Solutions, Tampa, Fla.
John Williams, President & CEO, Gould & Lamb, Bradenton, Fla.
Moderator: Mark Walls, AVP-Claims, Safety National, St. Louis
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Interactive
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 required insurers, self-insured companies and TPAs to determine Medicare status for all claimants and report to the federal government when those claims are resolved. The changes in reporting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, coupled with the constantly changing rules for Medicare Setasides and last year’s implementation of new pharmacy review criteria, have turned the workers’ compensation system on its ear. Executives from some of the largest MSA/SCHIP compliance companies and one of the nation’s foremost attorneys on the topic will hash out some of the biggest difficulties faced in trying to comply with these changes. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to ask these experts your specific questions.
LR2 |
OSHA Recordkeeping: Are You Ready for an Inspection? |
Dan Sulzner, Loss Control Representative, Midwest Employers Casualty Company,
Chesterfield, Mo.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 2:45 - 4 p.m.
With an estimated 10 to 20 percent of recordable injuries and illnesses going unrecorded, the Obama Administration has stepped up OSHA’s enforcement of workplace recordkeeping — including visits to unsuspecting employers. With little or no formal training available, do you know if you’re doing it right? Do you have the correct information on your OSHA 300 Logs? Mr. Sulzner will review the required forms, dissect the OSHA inspection process and analyze the five-step process to determine if a claim is recordable. You’ll learn the ins and outs of OSHA recordkeeping and where to get the resources you need to avoid a citation.
LR3 |
Revisiting Injury Prevention and RTW Practices Under the “New” ADA |
Frank Alvarez, Esq., Partner, Jackson Lewis LLP, White Plains, N.Y.
Richard Pimentel, Senior Partner, Milt Wright & Associates, Granada Hills, Calif.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 2:45 - 4 p.m.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act is protecting more individuals and shining a brighter spotlight on injury prevention and return-to-work programs. Mr. Pimentel and Mr. Alvarez will examine the most common work-related injuries that are likely to be considered disabilities under the ADA and employment practices bound to draw ADA challenges. They will identify points in the recovery/RTW process where reasonable accommodations must be explored aggressively and discuss procedures to help employers do so effectively. Finally, our speakers will highlight potential conflicts that may hinder effective communication with employees concerning reasonable accommodations.
LR4 |
Reclassifying Workers: How Changes at the Federal Level Will Shake Up the Workers’ Comp Industry |
Julie Gackenbach, Principal, Confrere Strategies, LLC, Washington, D.C.
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Pending changes at the federal level will impact the workers’ comp system across the board. Whether through legislation or Executive Order, employers will find themselves having to reclassify workers — allowing some of the most injury-prone professions to be covered — and responsible for new withholding requirements. In addition, a model state law is being debated by the National Council of Insurance Legislators for the trucking and messenger courier industries. Find out what changes are happening and what you’ll need to know to stay ahead.
LR5 |
What They Are Thinking: An Inside Look Into the Strategies of Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys |
Attorney for the Plaintiff: Matthew Belcher, Belcher Law Office, Chicago
Attorney for the Defense: Richard Lenkov, Partner, Bryce Downey & Lenkov, LLC, Chicago
Moderator: Carla Cirelli Wynn, Director, Workers' Compensation Programs, Global
Risk Management, ARAMARK, Philadelphia
Session Level: All
Session Type: Interactive
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Ever wonder what goes through the mind of the plaintiff’s attorney in a workers’ comp case? Here’s your chance to find out. In a lively and engaging debate format, our attorneys will discuss key workers’ comp issues — such as use of surveillance, negotiation strategies and wage differential/permanent total disability — from both sides of the aisle. Our moderator will guide the discussion, take your questions and make sure you leave with plenty of practical tips to work with your legal partners.
LR6 |
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish |
Niki Ingram, Shareholder, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, Philadelphia
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
While cost containment is driving most business decisions these days, employers sometimes focus their frugality on the wrong functions. Such is the case, for example, when a claims adjuster hires a lower-priced vendor to set up an IME instead of a higher-priced orthopedic surgeon known to the attorney as someone who is a superior expert witness. The few hundred dollars you save on the front end will cost you if you lose the case. Ms. Ingram will give you strategies to understand why and when spending extra money early on can save you thousands of dollars down the road.
MB1 |
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: How to Avoid Disastrous Treatment Complications |
Dr. David Cooper, Director of Orthopedic Surgery, The Knee Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Seemingly simple work injuries turn into nightmares far too often. A worker with a mild injury develops a blood clot. Or, prednisone given for a soft tissue injury leads to a hip replacement. It happens often — treatment causes serious side effects, even impairment and disability. So what can you do to protect against your medical provider creating this scenario? Find out, as Dr. Cooper brings his insight and humor to the issue of avoidable medical complications.
MB2 |
Evolution of a UR Nation: The Rise, Rewards and Constraints of Peer-to-Peer Interaction |
William D. Abraham, M.D., Medical Director, Tri Rivers Assessment Services, Pittsburgh
Session Level: All
Session Type: Discussion
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 2:45 - 4 p.m.
Utilization Review can be a highly effective way to control claims costs. Workers’ comp stakeholders recognize the value of expert opinions, evidence-based medicine and physician-to-physician interaction. At the same time, variations in state regulations and the expansion of guidelines can cause confusion. An experienced peer reviewer, Dr. Abraham will outline the evolution of UR, discuss state variations and use case examples to guide you through discussions on state-specific strategies and constraints. He’ll outline ways to excel at UR and provide tips on how to get the most out of a peer review, especially for prescription medications.
MB3 |
Managing Chronic Pain |
David Deitz, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, National Medical Director, Liberty Mutual
Insurance Group, Boston
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Chronic pain cases are among the most expensive and difficult to manage. Treatments vary widely, outcomes are poor and objective endpoints are hard to identify. But a review of the latest research reveals practical ways to identify and manage these claims. Dr. Deitz will show you how to avoid bad outcomes through early intervention and proper care. You’ll learn how to develop effective claims management strategies for these cases and how to apply a holistic approach to even more complex cases through specialized, qualified chronic pain management programs.
MB4 |
AMA Guides Myth-busting: Facts vs. Fiction |
Christopher Brigham, M.D., Chairman, Impairment Resources, LLC, San Diego
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Impairment ratings drive more than $20 billion of cost in more than 44 states’ workers’ comp systems. But the latest version of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment has sparked controversy. Some plaintiff attorneys have called for a move away from an objective standard of defining impairment. Dr. Brigham, who was the senior contributing editor of the 6th Edition of the AMA Guides, believes such changes would have a profound impact on the workers’ comp system and result in additional costs. He will dispel misleading information and provide best practices to use the AMA Guides.
MB5 |
Understanding Knee and Shoulder Injuries for Better Claims Outcomes |
Edward M. Decter, M.D., Medical Director, CFO Medical Services; Head Orthopaedic Surgeon, NY/NJ MetroStars, Roseland, N.J.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Friday, Nov. 12 | 8:45 - 10 a.m.
Getting injured workers back on the job for the long term should be based on the guidelines of quality treatment — not just dollars and cents, says Dr. Decter. With his extensive background working with professional sports teams, he’s seen too many people forced to come back to work too soon. Dr. Decter will explain how companies can incur tremendous cost savings by understanding the duration of specific disease processes and the length of time to bring a claimant safely back to work.
MB6 |
Head Trauma: What You Need to Know About Treatment, Claim Closure and Impairment |
Jonathan Rutchik, M.D., Assistant Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of California at San Francisco; Medical Director, CID Management, San Francisco
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Friday, Nov. 12 | 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Industrial head injuries can make for some of the most complex cases. In addition to chronic pain, seizures and mood disorders, issues such as sleep disturbance, dizziness and hearing loss may complicate matters. Added to those challenges is the task of rating these injuries using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which involves many chapters and considerations. Using real case examples, Dr. Rutchik, a board-certified physician in neurology and occupational and environmental medicine, will explain a thorough medical approach to treatment and case management, plus reveal how best to navigate these difficult waters toward positive outcomes.
SV1 |
Conducting a Value-Added Claim Review |
Carla Cirelli Wynn, Director, Workers' Compensation Programs, Global Risk Management,
ARAMARK, Philadelphia
Shannon Gardner, Senior Manager, Risk Management, Chick-fil-A, Inc., Atlanta
Mark Noonan, Managing Principal, Casualty Practice, Integro Insurance Brokers, Boston
Session Level: All
Session Type: Interactive
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
How do you judge the effectiveness of your TPA? How do you make sure claims files are postured to close? How do you select the appropriate files to review if you have many open lost-time claim files? The claim review process should be a collaborative effort with all parties involved. Ms. Cirelli Wynn and Mr. Noonan, conference program co-chairs, and Ms. Gardner will show you the process of reviewing a claim to see if your TPA is effectively impacting the process. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to ask these three workers’ comp veterans your specific questions.
SV2 |
High Performance Workers’ Compensation Networks: What’s the Secret Ingredient? |
Denise Gillen-Algire, RN, Practice Leader, Integrated Health & Productivity Management,
Risk Navigation Group, Albuquerque, N.M.
Dr. Bernyce Peplowski, EVP & Chief Medical Officer, Zenith Insurance Company,
Woodland Hills, Calif.
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 10 | 2:45 - 4 p.m.
Provider networks that are built primarily on volume and discount-based methodologies just don’t work — at least, not for the long term. Workers’ compensation insurers are starting to embrace a new model that focuses on quality-driven networks. Rather than seeing providers as necessary evils in the workers’ comp process, savvy insurers realize partnerships are essential to resolving claims faster, with lower costs and better outcomes. Our presenters will show you how they’ve built a network that ensures quality providers, plus provide tools to help you do this in your organization.
SV3 |
Reducing Real Costs While Reducing Injuries: The Award-Winning Foster Farms Story |
Ernie Machado, Risk Manager, Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif.
Connie Miller, Vice President, BTE Technologies, Inc., Greenwood Village, Colo.
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Interactive
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
There’s a reason Ernie Machado was named Risk & Insurance® Magazine’s Risk Innovator of the Year in 2009. He implemented a post-offer employment testing program that resulted in the closing of 100 percent of new claims in the first 12 months. The cost of new claims in the targeted injury category dropped by 30 percent, and 47 percent of employees slated for job transfer were not transferred — because it was determined the new jobs would have increased their injury risk. And all this has been done with the union’s blessing. Our speakers will show you how they developed and executed this strategy and how you can achieve similar results in your organization.
SV4 |
The National Workers’ Compensation Conference Executive Roundtable |
Double Session!
Dee Dee Bloom, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, SFA of Nevada, LLC, Las Vegas
Joseph Boures, President, Specialty Risk Services, Hartford, Conn.
Stuart Colburn, Shareholder, Downs Stanford P.C., Austin, Texas
Evan Falchuk, President and Chief Operating Officer, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston
Pam Ferrandino, Executive Vice President, National Practice Leader Casualty, Willis HRH North America, New York City
Jody Gray, President, York Public Entity, York Insurance Services Group, Orange, Calif.
Joseph Paduda, Owner, Health Strategy Associates, Madison, Conn.
Davidson Pattiz, Executive Vice President of Claims, Zenith Insurance Company, Woodland Hills, Calif.
Robert Rassp, Attorney, Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Bryan Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Cannon Cochran Management Services Inc., Danville, Ill.
Patrick Venditti, Director-Corporate Health Services, BJC HealthCare, St. Louis, Mo.
Mark Wilhelm, Chief Executive Officer, Safety National, St. Louis
Bruce Wollschlager, President and Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA), New Haven
Moderator: Mark Walls, AVP-Claims, Safety National, St. Louis
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Discussion
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 - 4:45 p.m.
Before the conference, we’ll survey registrants to uncover the workers’ comp issues they’re struggling with most. Then, in this 3+-hour double session, we’ll put their top four challenges out for discussion by some of the best-known names in the industry — a prestigious panel that includes employers, insurers, TPAs, brokers, attorneys, and other industry experts. Moderator Mark Walls, founder of the 5000-member Work Comp Analysis Group on LinkedIn, will keep things moving and ensure our panelists stay on their toes. Listen in on their lively discussion and ask questions.
SV5 |
Building a Dynamic Prevention Program That Enhances Safety and Loss Control: The Costco Story |
Carisa Harris, Director of Service Solutions, PreCare, Sonoma, Calif.
Katrina Zitnik, Director of Workers’ Compensation, Costco, Isaaquah, Wash.
Moderator: Jody Thompson, VP, Marketing & Sales, PreCare, Dana Point, Calif.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Lecture
Thursday, Nov. 11 | 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
An effective injury prevention program is more than safety and loss control. Done correctly, it can reduce workers’ compensation costs by 20 to 30 percent. Costco, one of the country’s largest self-insured employers, has built a highly successful program in some of its stores by providing on-site injury prevention and physical therapy treatment services to its employees. Learn how Costco uses on-site clinicians to work with employees as they perform their work tasks to teach and reinforce good techniques as well as how to identify cost-effective ways to reduce the risk of injury. You’ll discover a strategic approach to stopping injuries before they happen, ensuring that unavoidable injuries are less severe and less costly.
SV6 |
Driving Out Waste: The Path to Managing Your Workers’ Comp Prescription Drug Costs |
Celeste Player, Pharm.D., Senior Director, Clinical - Workers’ Compensation, Express Scripts,
St. Louis
Session Level: Advanced
Session Type: Lecture
Friday, Nov. 12 | 8:45 - 10 a.m.
Faced with the threat of third-party billers, litigation, absence of co-payments, state regulations, and a limited use of clinical programs, many workers’ comp providers find themselves vulnerable to unmanaged and skyrocketing prescription costs. Learn a multi-dimensional approach that can help you manage them. A pharmacist by trade, Ms. Player will discuss ways to manage drug spending by focusing on the core strategies of drug mix, drug utilization, and ensuring the most effective and efficient delivery channel. She’ll also offer a glimpse into the pipeline of products on the horizon — including $4 generics.
SV7 |
The UnConference Session: Impact of Healthcare Reform on Workers’ Compensation |
Double Session!
Facilitators:
David Deitz, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, National Medical Director, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Group, Boston
Joseph Paduda, Principal, Health Strategy Associates, Madison, Conn.
Session Level: All
Session Type: Discussion
Friday, Nov. 12 | 8:45 - 11:30 a.m.
At this time, no one knows what impact the historic health care reform legislation will have on workers’ compensation. But we do know we have talented and knowledgeable attendees who can share their experiences, perspectives and insights. Our facilitators will start the discussion and select audience members to serve as panelists. Then, the rest of the audience will determine the agenda and discuss key issues with the panelists. |
2010 Agenda 