Managing and Closing Workers' Compensation Claims in a Cost-Effective Manner
July 20, 2009
Hyannis, MA
The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis
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Executive Summary
Workers' compensation costs are skyrocketing nationwide. Part of that increase is because, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of workers' compensation claims involving more than 30 days away from work increased by 15% in the past four years. The more complex the claim, the more money employers are spending as you are dealing with indemnity costs, medical bills, legal fees, vendor expenses, etc. These costs can spiral out of control unless they are managed effectively.
This pre-conference will give you the practical tools necessary to effectively handle your workers' compensation claims, and close them, in the most cost-effective manner possible. You will hear from a workers' compensation defense attorney and a risk manager regarding practical tips on how to close your complex and costly workers' compensation claims in the most efficient cost-effective way.
Learning Objectives: This seminar will teach you how to:
- Work with your insureds to avoid claims in the first place and to properly handle injuries when they
first occur
- Conduct early and thorough investigations
- Handle litigation without ever retaining an attorney
- Manage vendors and reduce their costs
- Reduce attorneys' fees and expenses
- Move injured workers from collecting benefits back to work
- Close complex cases quickly
- Know when it is more cost effective to settle vs. trying a case
- Resolve old claims
- Use litigation tools to your advantage, e.g., discovery, pre-trials, depositions
- Properly reserve your claim
- Leverage a claimant's past medical history to your advantage
- Get money back via subrogation
Distinguished Faculty
Richard W. Lenkov, Esq. is a partner and trial attorney in the Chicago, Illinois law firm of BryceDowney, LLC. He received his BA from McGill University and his JD from Northern Illinois University. Attorney Lenkov is Panel Chairman of the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program and an active member of the Defense Research Institute, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Manufacturer's Association, Illinois Retail Merchants' Association, Illinois Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association and Workers' Compensation Claims Associations. Attorney Lenkov's practice areas include workers' compensation and personal injury defense.
Kurt Leisure is Vice President, Risk Services for The Cheesecake Factory. The Cheesecake Factory is a dynamic company with 140 casual-dining restaurants in 35 states. Mr. Leisure speaks to groups across the country on issues involving risk management and litigation cost containment.
Tuition
The $395 tuition includes a continental breakfast, breaks, lunch with faculty, a detailed manual which can be retained as a bookshelf reference, and a dynamic learning experience.
Click here for registration information.
Continuing Education Information
Case Managers: 6.5 contact hours of continuing education for Case Managers have been applied for from the Commission for Case Manager Certification, Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Disability Specialists: 6.5 contact hours of continuing education for Disability Specialists have been applied for from the Commission for Disability Management Specialists Commission, Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Human Resource Professionals: This program has been approved for 7 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Nurses: To successfully complete a program and receive contact hours you must: 1) register in, 2) be present for the period of time you are awarded contact hours, 3) complete the evaluation. Occupational Health Nurses: 6.6 60-minute contact hours of continuing education in nursing have been applied for through the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc (AAOHN). AAOHN is an accredited approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. (ANCC is the educational department under the ANA.) Physical Therapists: Continuing Physical Therapy credits vary by state, and will only be applied for if requested in writing on the conference registration form. Physicians: SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Rehabilitation Counselors: 6.5 contact hours of continuing education hours for Rehabilitation Counselors have been applied for from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Rehabilitation Nurses: This program will be accepted for 6.6 contact hours of credit for ARN certification. Submit certificate.
Schedule
Monday, July 20, 2009
7:30-8:00Continental Breakfast & Exhibits
8:00-9:00Early Investigation
- Safety policies to avoid claims
- What to do when injury happens
- Identifying key issues from the start
- Effective reserving
9:00-9:30Subrogation
- Early identification of third-party liability
- Determining fault
- Recovery strategies
- Asserting and protecting your lien
9:30-10:30Managing Complex Claims
- Understanding claimant's injury
- Use of surveillance
- Use of experts
- Return to work strategies
- Use of vocational rehabilitation
10:30-10:45BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:45-11:15Closing Complex Claims
- Trial vs. settlement
- Structured settlement
- Present cash value of wage differential and permanent total disability claims
11:15-12:00Litagation Strategies
- How to avoid retaining counsel
- Reducing legal fees and costs
- Discovery
- Depositions
- Pre-trials
12:00-1:00LUNCH PROVIDED WITH FACULTY
1:00-2:15Negotiation Strategies
- Contrasting approaches to negotiation
- How to get your opponent's bottom line as early as possible
- Dealing with pro se (unrepresented) claimants
- Trial value vs. settlement value
- Settlement contracts
2:15-3:15Managing Physicians
- Use of "tie-breaker" doctors
- IMEs
- Communicating with treating physician
- Use of company clinics
- Records reviews
- Using claimant's prior medical history to your advantage
3:15-3:30BREAK EXHIBITS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
3:30-4:15Nurse Case Management and Bill Review
- When to use a nurse case manager
- How to effectively use bill reviews
- Interaction between fee schedules and bill reviews
- Vocational rehabilitation
- FCEs
4:15-4:30Takeaways and Conclusion