At the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, David Deitz, MD, and Raji Chadarevian from NCCI discussed the use of medical marijuana and opioids in workers’ compensation. The number of claims that included the use of opioid medications in workers’ compensation decreased 12% from 2014 to 2015 and 8% in from 2015 to 2016. Overall, opioid […]

At the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, Michael Choo and Scott Goll from Paradigm Outcomes discussed trends in mega losses (defined as claims with total incurred greater than $1 million). The types of claims Paradigm sees are catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord, brain injuries, multiple amputations and severe burns. They receive over 1,000 claims per […]

At the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, a panel of risk managers discussed the evolving workforce and it’s impact on workers’ compensation. The panel included: Susan Donegan – Chief Regulatory Officer, NCCI (moderator) Michelle Adams – VP Risk Management Services, Walt Disney World Resort Marc Salm – VP Risk Management, Publix Super Markets, Inc. Melanie […]

At the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, Robert Hartwig, Clinical Associate Professor of Finance at the University of South Carolina gave a fast-paced session highlighting the impact the economy is having on workers’ compensation. The highlights: Growth of workers’ compensation premiums is tied to growth in our economy and our economy is growing right now. […]

At the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, Kathy Antonello, Chief Actuary for NCCI, gave the State of the Line presentation. The highlights: Last year brought double-digit rate decreases in almost half of the NCCI states. Tax reform is having a significant impact on the workers’ compensation line. Workers’ compensation net written premiums dropped 0.7% to […]

Bill Donnell, President and CEO of NCCI, kicked off the 2018 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium with a discussion of The Future@Work. Back in the early 90’s, the workers’ comp industry experienced six consecutive years of losses. Contract that with industry profitability the last 6 years. The market has gone up and down over the years […]

At the 2018 Insurance Rehab Synergy Group Annual Conference Robert Hall, MD and Tron Emptage both from Optium Workers’ Compensation, discussed opioid intervention strategies. One of the problems is that opioid medications are too easy to obtain: 60% of US citizens have leftover narcotics in their home. 70% of opioid prescriptions abused come from a […]

At the 2018 Insurance Rehab Synergy Group Annual Conference, a panel was a “fireside chat” on the past and future of rehabilitation and recovery. The panel included: Mark Ashley, SC.D, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST – President/CEO Centre for Neuro Skills Gary Ulichny, PhD – President/CEO GRU Health Care Kenny Hosack – Craig Hospital Natalie Hefner – […]

At the 2018 Insurance Rehab Synergy Group Annual Conference, Elizabeth Sandel, MD, Medical Director for Paradigm Managment Services, discussed post-concussive syndrome. Annually there around 2.5 million people with concussions and it is estimated that 25% of the population will have a concussion at some point in their life. Incidents of concussions are up significantly, but […]

At the 2018 Insurance Rehab Synergy Group Annual Conference, a panel discussed the use of telemedicine. The panel included: Mark Johnson – Sedgwick (moderator) Teresa Bartlett, MD – SVP and Senior Medical Officer, Sedgwick Alan Lee, PT, DPT, PhD, CWS – Professor, Mount Saint Mary’s University Ted Jeffries – Director of Claims, Missouri Employers Mutual […]