At the 2017 WCIRB Annual Conference Dave Bellusci, WCIRB Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary, presented an update on the state of California workers’ compensation. The highlights: Premiums in California have doubled from 2009 to 2015. This is a combination of rate increases and payroll increases. Since 2015 the premium growth has moderated due to […]

At the 2017 PRIMA Annual Conference a panel discussed strategies to for addressing cost drivers in your workers’ compensation program. The panel was: Edward Canavan – VP Workers’ Compensation Practice and Compliance, Sedgwick Dawn Watkins – Director Integrated Disability Management, Los Angeles Unified School District Zachary Gifford – Associate Director Systemwide Risk Management, The California […]

At the 2017 PRIMA Annual Conference a panel discussed how an advocacy approach can impact your claim managment program. The panel was: Dawn Watkins – Director Integrated Disability Management, Los Angeles Unified School District Kevin Confetti – Deputy Chief Risk Officer, University of California Teresa Bartlett – SVP Medical Quality, Sedgwick An advocacy based claims […]

At the 2017 annual PRIMA conference a panel explains how an effective return-to-work program includes much more than light duty. A complete program includes planning and analysis that takes place before an accident or injury occurs. The panel for this session includes: JJ Schmidt, Senior Vice President-Managed Care, York Risk Services Group Kimberly Wickert, Vice […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference, a panel discussed the importance of having an advocacy-based claims model. The speakers included: Natalie Bailey – Attorney, Hennessy Roach PC Andy Condrey – Claims Operations Manager, Gray Insurance Company Jim Saccone – AVP, Sedgwick Everyone has a role in advocacy. The employer, TPA, carrier, attorney and […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference, a panel discussed the problems with marijuana, opioids, and pain. The panel was: Jennifer Saddy – Director Workers’ Compensation, American Airlines Teresa Bartlett – SVP Medical Director, Sedgwick Bert Randall – Attorney, Franklin Prokopik PC Opioids The opioid crisis in the U.S. costs our society over $55 […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference, a panel discussed managing the risks of workplace violence. The panel was: Mark Baker – VP Risk Management, Hyatt Corporation Lance Ewing – EVP Global Risk Management and Client Services, Cotton Holdings, Inc. Stephen Kmiec – VP, Sedgwick Dan Kugler –  VP Enterprise Risk Management, Rev Group […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference a panel discussed using a captive to fund your workers’ compensation program. The panel was: Arthur Koritzinsky – Managing Director, Marsh James Poerio – Attorney, Poero and Walter Robert Davidson – Director of Underwriting and Consulting – ICG Captive A captive is a legally licensed insurance company […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Annual Conference, a panel discussed the rise of specialty drugs, including anti-virals such as Truvada, Combivir and Kaletra, and how they are utilized in workers’ compensation claims. The panel included: Heather Carbone – Attorney, Boyd and Jenerette P.A. Kimberly Simmons – Property and Casualty Claims – Fidelity National Financial Martine […]

At the 2017 Business Insurance/CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference a panel discussed the controversial issue of polypharmacy from the perspectives of the medical community and the claims/legal community. The panel was: Greg McKenna – Vice President, Gallagher Bassett Bill Pipkin – Attorney, Austin Lewis Pipkin and Maddox LLC Dave Randolph  – Medical Director, Midwest Occupational Health […]