Tuesday, August 21, 2018

9:00 – 5:00 pm
Grand Ballroom 8B
Convention Level
(Entrance through corridor between Grand Ballrooms 7 & 8)

9:00 am
NWCR Welcome and Introductions

Co-Chairs, National Workers’ Compensation Review:
William E. Pipkin, Jr., Attorney
Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox
Mobile, AL

H. George Kagan, Attorney
H. George Kagan, PA
Gulf Stream, FL

James M. Anderson, Attorney
Anderson Crawley & Burke
Ridgeland, MS

9:00 – 10:00 am
Hot Clinical Topics In Workers’ Compensation, And Implications For Return To Work: PTSD, Concussion, CRPS

Panel:
Suzy Braden
Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager
Encompass Health
Birmingham, AL

Andy P. Condrey, AIC CWCP
Claims Operations Manager
The Gray Insurance Company
Metairie, LA

Robert J. Barth, PhD
Barth Neuroscience, PC
Chattanooga, TN

Workers’ compensation executives know all too well: that PTSD, concussion, and CRPS cases seem to be mushrooming, presenting significant challenges for claims managers. Our health science experts and claims professionals arm you with information needed to better understand these issues and effectively manage these claims. Panelists address the objective and clinical dynamics of these diagnoses toward better enabling attendees to hold medical providers accountable. Learn about the harmful health effects of being AWAY from work in the context of successful return-to-work programs that balance legitimate treatment and recovery concerns with proven health benefits of returning to work, and staying there.

10:00 – 11:00 am
New Waves In Medical Treatment: Perspectives On Challenges And Out-Of-The Box Approaches To Management Of Opioids, Marijuana And Telemedicine In Workers’ Compensation Claims

Panel:
Steven A. Mange, Attorney
Senior Policy & Strategy Counsel
North Carolina Department of Justice
Raleigh, NC

Mark Pew
Senior Vice President, Product Development & Marketing
Preferred Medical
Louisville, KY

Charles C. Kyles
Director of Workers’ Compensation for Duke University & Health System
Durham, NC

David G. San Miguel
Corporate Risk Manager
Victory Packaging
Houston, TX

Jeffrey E. Lowe, Attorney
Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP
Oakland, CA

Jennifer Morris Jones, Attorney
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP
Raleigh, NC

Cost-effective medical management is today’s top challenge in workers’ compensation claims, and the times are indeed “a changin.” Increasing awareness of the national opioid epidemic puts regulation of opioids in acute and chronic claims atop many states’ legislative agendas. 41 states now legalize some form of medical cannabis, and marijuana as a prescribed and reimbursable medical treatment now is legal in at least seven states. The remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology is in constant motion. Changing policies, services covered, provider requirements, and reimbursements vary among the States. Our top-flight panel provides stakeholders an informed, national overview covering legality of opioids, marijuana, and applicability of telemedicine in workers’ compensation claims.

11:00 – 12:00 pm
Medical Services On Demand: A Look At New Delivery Models

Panel:
Teresa Bartlett, MD
Sr. VP, Medical Quality
Sedgwick CMS
Memphis, TN

Michael Coupland
CEO
Network Medical Director
Integrated Medical Case Solutions
West Palm Beach, FL

Daniel Sanchez
VP Operations
Onsite Physio
Jacksonville, FL

The elusive goal of getting the right medical treatment to the right patient at the right time is now possible. Come hear from industry leaders how this is being accomplished. Evolving treatment options combined with advances in technology are finally enabling provision of the best medical care available to injured workers regardless of time, distance, or locale. In some cases that means bringing the provider right to the patient – at home or at the plant. In others, it means having an authentic expert specialist in one city participate in a medical appointment scheduled in another city, via telemedicine. In still others it may involve a hybrid of the two, including robotic services in part. These new models of healthcare delivery promote earlier returns to work or full duty, and better outcomes generally, while almost certainly helping preempt creeping catastrophic claims – seemingly simple injuries that go off the rails. Find out what mobile medicine is all about, and how to harness its energies sooner rather than later, as our expert panelists share these new practices that are also — as such things usually are – more cost effective in the long run.

12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch (on your own)
Purchase lunch in the Exhibit Hall. Visit the “Comp Time” Diner… grab & go, or sit and network with clients and exhibitors!

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Workplace Violence — A Clear And Present Danger!

Panel:
Audrey Allsopp
Corporate Claim Manager
Dollar Tree, Inc.
Chesapeake, VA

Robert D. Stokes, Attorney
Flahive, Ogden & Latson
Austin, TX

Robert Wilson
President
WorkersCompensation.com
Sarasota, FL

We are sickened and shocked by the headlines, anguished over their increasing regularity. But what happens when the headlines are about us? And, while we may not eliminate all, can we bring down their frequency — and dreaded “body counts?” Our panelists address these ultimate workers’ compensation nightmares. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2015, 15% of all work-related fatal occupational injuries resulted from violence. No store, plant, office, or field is immune but certain industries are more prone than others. Robberies account for 85% of on-the-job deaths and pose problems unique to service stations, banks, retail, and taxi/ride industries — and police operations in response to these. More diffuse throughout industry is emotional/psychological violence stemming from job actions and personal animosities, including harm to co-workers trying to thwart these. This sober panel presentation looks at these problems principally from the claims and legal perspective. Tangible proposed solutions and methodologies are offered toward avoidance and mitigation in the first part, while legal analysis of the extent of liability for the consequences is presented in the second.

2:00 – 3:00 pm
The Busy And Hazardous Intersection of the ADA, FMLA And Workers’ Compensation

Moderator:
Mark Walls
Vice President Communications & Strategic Analysis
Safety National
Chicago, IL

Panel:
Susan Emerson
General Manager Claims Management Disability, Leave and Workers’ Compensation
Delta Airlines
Atlanta, GA

Kimberly Webb
Director National Technical Compliance ADA Accommodations
Sedgwick
Dallas, TX

Nancy Strubler
Director, Workers’ Compensation
National Express LLC
Lisle, IL

This is where workers’ compensation meets federal regulation. Our panelists offer a crash course to help prepare you for traveling this hazardous intersection because some of the signal lights and turn lanes have changed! Leave of absence laws such as the ADA and FMLA also apply in workers’ compensation claims. However, because leave of absence is handled by human resources — and workers’ compensation by risk management – these different “garages” can dispatch confusion and inconsistency — and inappropriate outcomes carry significant legal implications. Our panel of authentic experts breaks down and analyzes the intersection from all vantage points, helping to assure that the workers’ compensation claims driver knows what’s coming and stays in proper legal compliance lanes!

3:00 – 4:00 pm
Diversity and Inclusion – Objective Examples of Meaningful Inclusion

Moderator:
Jeffrey Adelson, Attorney
Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez
Santa Ana, CA

Panel:
Chikita Mann, MSN, RN, CCM
Genex Services
Branch Supervisor
Duluth, GA

Caryn Siebert
VP Carrier Practice
Gallagher-Bassett
Los Angeles, CA

Jay Gates
Account Executive
Holmes Murphy
Lincoln, NE

The meaning of the phrase “diversity and inclusion” (D&I) can differ widely, depending on life experiences and background. However, regardless of how any given individual may define it, fair-minded people now agree meaningful inclusion is not only the “right thing to do,” but also constitutes an agent of positive, objective change, and improvement for company and customer. Our deeply informed panelists engage you in a candid D&I conversation covering the what, why and how. More than just talk, however, our panel delivers objective evidence of clear-cut, positive business impacts from enlightened application of D&I principles. Presenters share simple methodologies underlying concrete and successful D&I programs and policies that exist in the here and now – at their own companies. Learn how D&I has improved business operations and enhanced delivery of services.

4:00 – 5:00 pm
Faith Based Ethics: Biblical and Religious Perspectives on Diversity & Inclusion

Panel:
Desiree Tolbert, AVP
National Technical Compliance
Sedgwick CMS
Lake Mary, FL

Sabrina Taylor-Mitchell, CWC, CWCL
Claims Manager
PMA Companies
Tampa, FL

William E. Pipkin, Jr., Attorney
Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox
Mobile, AL

Our panelists take what is developed in the preceding “diversity and inclusion” presentation and run with it. Are those conclusions relevant to our “business conference?” What can we draw out of what the Bible tells of D&I, or does it reflect times as they were, not as they are? How does our faith shape our perspective on D&I and our actions regarding diversity and inclusion in our day to day business lives and planning? The answers may not be simple, but their investigation is well worth conscientious introspection and debate – and that is what our panelists deliver.