Executive Summary

 Learning Objectives

- Determine the specific career opportunities available to you in Disability and File Review Consulting
- Understand what a high quality file review consists of
- Learn the key medical-legal disability issues
- Understand the differing disability standards and contractual terms
- Efficiently write concise file reviews with supportable opinions
- Understand how to deal with issues such as:
        -  Functional ability
        -  Diagnostic tests
        -  Impacts of medications on ability to work
- Market yourself directly and confidently to disability insurers
- Understand the effects of inactivity
- Appreciate the pros and cons of developing an independent consulting practice 

Comments from Past Attendees

Distinguished Faculty

Robert N. Anfield, MD, JD, FAAFP is Lead Medical Director of Cigna Group Insurance and is a former Regional Medical Director for Aetna. He has 20 years of experience managing disability. His experience began at Ameritech, a regional telecommunications company headquartered in Chicago, IL, where, as a Manager, Corporate Occupational Medicine he was responsible for the integrated management of the STD, LTD and workers' compensation experience of Ameritech's 70,000 employees. Subsequently, Dr. Anfield was employed by UnumProvident Corporation as a Medical Director and also served as the Corporate Medical Director of GENEX. Dr. Anfield has had extensive experience in the disability consulting field including: defining role, authority and accountability of physicians within the claim process, developing and implementing processes for claim referrals to medical professionals, developing and implementing recommendations for organization and staffing of physicians within claims, recruiting and hiring physicians, developing and implementing metrics and reporting methodology to track physician productivity, developing and implementing policies and process for on-going credentialing of physicians, budgeting for and managing and organization of 100+ physicians at 4 U.S. sites. Dr. Anfield has testified regarding private sector disability programs and recommendations to improve the Social Security Administration's disability claim process before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Social Security (2002) and before the Social Security Advisory Board (2005). Dr. Anfield's area of practice is Occupational and Environmental Medicine; he is board certified in Family Medicine and holds degrees from Indiana University School of Medicine and the UCLA School of Law. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Steven Babitsky, Esq., is the President of SEAK, Inc. He was a personal injury trial attorney for twenty years and is the former managing partner of the firm Kistin, Babitsky, Latimer & Beitman. Mr. Babitsky is a prolific writer on expert witness issues and is the co-author of the texts Cross-Examination: The Comprehensive Guide for Experts, Writing and Defending Your Expert Report: The Step-by-Step Guide with Models, How to Excel During Cross-Examination: Techniques for Experts That Work, The Comprehensive Forensic Services Manual: The Essential Resources for All Experts, 2004 National Guide To Expert Witness Fees and Billing Procedures and How to Excel During Depositions: Techniques for Experts That Work. 

Alan Neuren, MD is a private contractor providing consultation services to disability carriers in the Portland, Maine area. He received his BA from Bowdoin College and his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Neuren completed residencies in psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and neurology at Albany Medical Center in New York. He is board certified in both specialties. Dr. Neuren was in clinical practice until 2001 when he was hired as Vice-president Medical Director at Unum. He also served on active duty with the United States Navy between 1975 and 1977 and again in 1991 when he was recalled to active duty for Operation Desert Storm. Dr. Neuren is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.