2010 Agenda

Tuesday, October 26, 2010
7:30 am	8:30 am	Workshop Registration and Continental Breakfast
10:00 am	10:15 am	Break
8:30 am	11:30 am	Optional Workshop
		WORKERS' COMPENSATION 101 The A to Z of Workers' Comp, and Managing Claims from Soup to Nuts:  Vital Compliance and Claims Management Tactics to Protect Your Organization
11:30 am	12:45 pm	Networking Lunch and Conference Registration
12:45 pm	12:50 pm	Opening Remarks from the Chair
12:50 pm	1:50 pm	OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION The Medical Cost-Containment Conundrum in New Jersey: Update on Key Issues Including the Bill Repricing Controversy and Potential Solutions
1:45 pm	2:45 pm	CLAIMS MANAGEMENT TACTICS Tactics for Successfully Handling the Biggest Claims-Management Challenges for Employers: Chronic Health Conditions, the Aging Workforce, and More
2:45 pm	3:15 pm	Break
3:15 pm	4:00 pm	MEDICARE SECONDARY PAYER STATUTE Compliance Update 2010: New Requirements and Strategies to Ensure Compliance and Maximize Savings
4:00 pm	5:00 pm	ADA AND WORKERS’ COMP Managing Burgeoning Reasonable Accommodation Issues Arising from Workers' Compensation Claims
5:00 pm	6:15 pm	Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast
8:30 am	9:20 am	KEYNOTE SESSION The Impact of the New Health Care Reforms on Employers in New Jersey
9:20 am	10:15 am	THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISASTER Solutions to the Increasing Use of Addictive Drugs and the Impact on Workers' Comp Costs and Injured-Employee Outcomes
10:15 am	10:45 am	Break
10:45 am	11:45 am	PANEL DISCUSSION: RETURN TO WORK Advanced Return-to-Work Strategies in Challenging Economic Times: Innovative Solutions for Achieving Success with Fewer Dollars and Smaller Staff
11:45 am	12:30 pm	CASE LAW AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE New Developments in New Jersey Workers' Compensation Case Law and Legislation: What You Need to Know to Be Proactive
12:30 pm	1:30 pm	Networking Lunch
1:30 pm	2:30 pm	CLAIMS-MANAGEMENT DEBACLES The Top Ten Claims-Management Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
2:30 pm	3:15 pm	COMBATTING FRAUD Fighting Medical-Provider Fraud: Putting a Stop to Overbilling, Double Billing, Self Referrals, and More!
3:15 pm	3:30 pm	Break
3:30 pm	4:30 pm	CASE STUDY SUCCESS STORY How to Implement a Successful Workers' Comp Risk-Management Strategy to Achieve Winning Results
4:30 pm		Conference Concludes
8:30 am WORKSHOP WORKERS' COMPENSATION 101 The A to Z of Workers' Comp, and Managing Claims from Soup to Nuts: Vital Compliance and Claims Management Tactics to Protect Your Organization The New Jersey workers’ comp system is fraught with complexities, and handling claims can be risky business, particularly for those who are not well versed in the laws. The failure to adhere to the many compliance requirements may result in costly fines and expensive liability. This comprehensive workshop will provide you with a definitive A-to-Z guide to handling claims and staying in compliance. Topics to be addressed include: Before the claim happens: Implementing proactive policies to significantly reduce costs later After the claim occurs: Taking critical steps in the first 24 hours following injury or illness to mitigate your potential exposure Conducting an effective investigation: Developing reporting procedures and preparing required documentation Defining compensability: Clarifying coverage and examining the exceptions Calculating workers’ comp benefits: Assessing your exposure on workers’ compensation claims Avoiding fines and penalties: Ensuring compliance with the New Jersey statutes and regulations Case studies: Analyze real-life scenarios throughout the workshop, and walk away with strategies to apply to your own workers’ comp cases Richard D. Arnold, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP William T. Freeman, Esq., Partner FREEMAN, BARTON, HUBER & SACKS Back
12:45 pm Opening Remarks from the Chair Jeffrey D. Newby, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP Back
12:50 pm OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION The Medical Cost-Containment Conundrum in New Jersey: Update on Key Issues Including the Bill Repricing Controversy and Potential Solutions Soaring workers’ compensation medical costs are presenting a huge threat to the bottom line of private and public sector employers already struggling in a challenging economic environment. This enlightening session will provide you with an update on the burning cost-containment issues facing New Jersey employers and potential solutions to these problems. Topics to be addressed include: Medical costs for curative versus palliative care: When does it end? Update on medical cost containment, bill coding, and repricing Challenges confronting employers in workers’ comp court proceedings when medical providers file claims Mark S. Setaro, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP Kathleen M. Bomberger, RN, BS, Care Manager, Field Case Management and Crawford Care Management BROADSPIRE Back
1:45 pm CLAIMS MANAGEMENT TACTICS Tactics for Successfully Handling the Biggest Claims-Management Challenges for Employers: Chronic Health Conditions, the Aging Workforce, and More This session will focus on the increasing challenges that employers face in the management of workers’ compensation claims, including increasing injury risks for older workers and employees with chronic health conditions. Topics to be addressed include: Managing workers’ comp claims when the injured employees have underlying chronic health conditions: Diabetes, obesity, and more Mitigating the increasing workplace injury risks for older employees How the skilled-worker shortage is impacting workers’ comp claims and what you can do about it Moderator: Richard D. Arnold, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP Panelists: TBA Andrea Kramarz, Claims Manager – Risk Management Department SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Back
3:15 pm MEDICARE SECONDARY PAYER STATUTE Compliance Update 2010: New Requirements and Strategies to Ensure Compliance and Maximize Savings There are significant new responsibilities for insurers, employers, and attorneys when settling claims involving Medicare recipients. Failure to comply with the Medicare Secondary Payer statute can result in significant penalties and exposure. This session will provide you with what you need to know and do to ensure compliance and maximize savings in the resolution of your claims. Robert T. Lewis, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel CROWE PARADIS SERVICES CORPORATION Back
4:00 pm ADA AND WORKERS’ COMP Managing Burgeoning Reasonable Accommodation Issues Arising from Workers' Compensation Claims Both the new ADA Amendments Act and recent court decisions have expanded employer obligations and significantly increased liability risks. And when the employee’s disability arises from a workplace injury, this adds to the challenge. This session will provide you with critical strategies for managing complex reasonable accommodation issues arising from workers’ compensation claims. Learn what you can do to be proactive and avoid costly litigation. Kelly M. Estevam, Esq., Attorney CAPEHART & SCATCHARD, P.A. Back
8:30 am KEYNOTE SESSION The Impact of the New Health Care Reforms on Employers in New Jersey This enlightening session will provide you with critical information on the new comprehensive health care reforms passed by Congress this year and what this sweeping legislation will mean for employers in New Jersey. Get clarification on both the employer and employee mandates under the new reforms Learn how the new federal health care legislation impacts New Jersey laws How will your health care plans be impacted under the new laws? Mark C. Holloway, J.D., Senior Vice President and Director, Compliance Services LOCKTON BENEFIT GROUP of LOCKTON COMPANIES, LLC Back
9:20 am THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISASTER Solutions to the Increasing Use of Addictive Drugs and the Impact on Workers' Comp Costs and Injured-Employee Outcomes The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute reports that medications are the most rapidly growing component of cost in workers’ compensation and they account for more than 10 percent of all workers’ compensation related medical costs, as well as 25 percent of all medical cost in injuries over five years in age. This session will provide you with an evidence-based pharmacy solution that will mitigate your exposure to rising prescription drug costs. Discover how this successful approach addresses both clinical and financial considerations including relative drug efficacy and safety, generic alternatives, duration of therapy, dosing issues, drug interactions, off-label use, and much more. Anne Sambucini, RN, CCM, CDMS, CNLCP, MSCC, President ANS REHAB CONSULTING, LLC Dane A. Higgins, M.B.A., Pharm.D., Doctor of Pharmacy ANS REHAB CONSULTING, LLC Back
10:45 am PANEL DISCUSSION: RETURN TO WORK Advanced Return-to-Work Strategies in Challenging Economic Times: Innovative Solutions for Achieving Success with Fewer Dollars and Smaller Staff Tightened budgets and downsized staffs resulting from the economic downturn have presented new and complex return-to-work challenges for employers. This session will provide you with out-of-the-box solutions that work, even under tight budget constraints. Hear how leading organizations are implementing successful return-to-work programs, decreasing lost days, and significantly reducing workers’ comp costs. Our experts will identify the key factors that get in the way of bringing employees back on the job and provide you with proven strategies to overcome the challenges. Discover innovative strategies to bring employees back on the job and learn how to safely navigate the light-duty labyrinth and avoid the legal snares! What employers can do to address the return-to-work dilemmas brought on by the recession Find out how leading New Jersey employers are continuing to achieve success in their return-to-work programs in spite of tight budget constraints Measuring the ROI of your return-to-work program and balancing business interests Moderator: Jeffrey D. Newby, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP Panelists: Joe Levin, Corporate Manager - Safety and Workers’ Compensation MCKESSON CORPORATION Joseph P. Boyle, ARM, Eastern Regional Workers’ Comp Claims Manager, Global Risk Management ARAMARK Back
11:45 am CASE LAW AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE New Developments in New Jersey Workers' Compensation Case Law and Legislation: What You Need to Know to Be Proactive This informative session will provide an update on the latest New Jersey workers’ comp decisions and what they will mean for stakeholders in the New Jersey workers’ comp system. In addition, you will find out about new and proposed legislation. Hear the latest on recent court decisions including: Expanding penalties for late payments – ouch! When a deviation is not really a deviation: How far can you go to get your coffee? Aggravation vs. Recurrence? When a back or neck disability reappears, who is responsible for benefits? When can exposure to perfume cause a disability? Jeffrey D. Newby, Esq., Partner WEBER GALLAGHER SIMPSON STAPLETON FIRES & NEWBY LLP Back
1:30 pm CLAIMS-MANAGEMENT DEBACLES The Top Ten Claims-Management Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Our panel of leading workers’ compensation experts will provide you with strategies for preventing the biggest claims-management debacles that result in higher workers’ comp costs, expensive litigation, and costly fines. Topics to be addressed include: Failing to recognize a high-dollar claim early in the life of the claim so that you can be proactive Failing to properly file claims and resolve inconsistencies in the information provided by injured employees Failing to conduct thorough accident investigations of the root cause so that you can prevent future incidents Failing to establish a sound ergonomics program to proactively train your workforce Communication breakdowns and uncooperative supervisors who antagonize claimants Failing to closely monitor and evaluate performance of your adjuster or TPA to ensure you are getting the best results John H. Geaney, Esq., Shareholder CAPEHART & SCATCHARD, P.A. William R. Nortrup, Claims Manager, Department of Risk Management and Insurance RUTGERS UNIVERSITY Doris Dicristina, RN, BSN, MSHCM, COHN-S/CM, LNC, Director, Employee Health Services ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Back
2:30 pm COMBATTING FRAUD Fighting Medical-Provider Fraud: Putting a Stop to Overbilling, Double Billing, Self Referrals, and More! Medical-provider fraud continues to drive up workers’ compensation costs. This session will provide you with an update on the latest medical fraud scams in New Jersey. Find out how overbilling and overtreatment schemes work and what can be done to stop them. You will hear how the latest surveillance techniques can be used to successfully combat these forms of fraud. Daniel T. Lewbart, Esq., Partner GEROLAMO, MCNULTY, DIVIS AND LEWBART, PC TBA Back
3:30 pm CASE STUDY SUCCESS STORY How to Implement a Successful Workers' Comp Risk-Management Strategy to Achieve Winning Results Discover how leading New Jersey companies are successfully improving their loss experience and safety compliance and significantly reducing the frequency and severity of workplace injuries. As businesses continue to struggle to compete in the current economic climate, it has never been more important to have a risk management strategy that will contain your workers’ comp costs. Hear how you can achieve success by implementing successful risk-management tactics that will have a major impact on your bottom line. TBA Back