At the 2024 WCRI Annual Conference, Harvard economist David Cutler discussed the recent transformations of the healthcare system. Currently, there is more uncertainty in the healthcare system than ever before. Healthcare systems are struggling with staffing, pricing, reimbursement rates, and even solvency. Overall healthcare needs fell during COVID as people delayed elective procedures. This was […]

At the 2023 WCRI Annual Conference, Dr. Olesya Formenko from WCRI talked about how medical inflation impacts workers’ compensation. Growth in the Consumer Price Index from 2020 to 2022 was much higher than in previous years, averaging 6.4%. The average growth in the eight years prior to that was 1.6%. The price increases seen in […]

At the 2019 NCSI Annual Meeting, Doug Holmes from Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers’ Compensation (UWC) talked about how workers’ compensation factors into the “Medicare for All” push. Is “Medicare for All” a serious possibility? It does poll well with the public and it is a focus of the Democratic Party including all of […]

At the 2018 RIMS Annual Conference, a panel discussed political issues that could impact risk management. The panel included: Lance Ewing – EVP Global Risk Management, Cotton Holdings Inc Joel Wood – SVP Government Affairs, CIAB James McIntyre – RIMS Washington Counsel RIMS has an External Affairs Committee that reviews issues and coordinates lobbying efforts […]

This session at the 2016 California Workers’ Compensation & Risk Conference highlighted three major Medicare issues impacting workers’ compensation today. Speakers included: Dan Wynn, Workers’ Compensation Manager, Goodwill Southern California John Kane, Medicare Program Director, Liberty Mutual Ciara Koba, Partner, Burns White LLC Latest Developments The SMART Act amended the Social Security Act requiring that […]

At the 2016 NAMSAP Annual Conference, a panel provided an overview of how CMS is handling liability Medicare set-aside arrangements. The panel was: David Cherry – Cherry Injury Firm Roy Franco – Franco Signor, LLC Thomas Spratt – NuQuest There are significant differences between workers’ compensation and liability Medicare set-asides. Workers’ compensation benefits are statutory […]

At the 2016 NAMSAP Annual Conference, a panel discussed pricing methodologies for Medicare Set Asides. The panel was Beth Hostetler – Safeway Albertson’s Christine Melancon – EZ-MSA Services Jake Reason – EK Health Services CMS looks for trends in the treatment in making allocating recommendations. Many regions want to see 4 doctors visits on the […]

At the 2016 NAMSAP Annual Conference Monika Boswein from Acuity and Katie Fox from Franco Signor LLC discussed issues around conditional payments and safe harbor provisions in the SMART Act. When you are considering potential penalties and compliance issues one thing to keep in mind is that safe harbor’s are triggered by reporting. If you […]

At the 2016 NAMSAP Annual Conference a panel discussed cases around the country on the reimbursement rights of private entities. The panel was: Ciara Kobe – Burns White Heather Sanderson – Franco Signor, LLC Jennifer Jordan – MEDVAL Lee Yeakel – Judge US District Court, Western District Texas Medicare Advantage plans are private healthcare plans […]

At the 2016 RIMS Annual Conference, a panel presented a session highlighting the latest challenges in Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance. The panel was: John Burkholder – Director Risk Management, Broward County Board of County Commissioners Cliff Connor – Vice President Medicare Compliance, Gallagher Bassett Services Roy Franco – Chief Legal Officer, Franco Signor LLC The […]