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A HISTORY LESSON

Dear Editor:

Great article--and a great brief history lesson.

I'm an American of proud Polish ancestry and was also struck by the fact that the entire higher echelon of Polish government cultural and religious leadership were on the very same plane--and a Russian aircraft at that.

I am somewhat of a history buff and know all too well the circumstances surrounding the heinous Katyn Massacre and the centuries old special "relationship" that the Poles had to endure with their conquering German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires.

I immediately sensed "foul play"! In any event, I appreciated the article-good food for thought.

Please keep up the fine work.

Ron Sliga

Risk Management Coordinator

Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHINE

Dear Editor:

Re: "Down and Out With Public Risk Managers," riskandinsurance.com, June 10, 2010.

I liked this article. I was a public sector risk manager for five years before starting this company to help small to medium-sized organizations manage risk in an affordable way.

I lived through economic downturns and hard markets, and I feel the pain of the public risk managers. It's times like these where risk management can really shine in the public sector. There are always opportunities to find efficiencies and reduce the cost of risk. The risk managers know this. The challenge is in getting the buy-in from administrators.

The current situation will soon be compounded as we head into the next hard market, so the public sector risk managers aren't out of the woods yet. A good place to find quick wins is to review coverages, limits and deductibles.

I also agree with the comment about better communications with the insurance markets. With cuts in operations, reduced revenues mostly caused by a decreased tax base due to reduced property values, and other changes related to the economy, the nature of the risk has changed and a case for reduced premiums can be made to the insurance markets.

Craig Rowe

President and CEO

ClearRisk Inc.

WHAT OF UNCAPPED STATES?

Dear Editor:

Re: "NCCI Predicts Effects of Healthcare Reform on Workers' Comp," WorkersComp Forum, June 7, 2010.

One item that is not mentioned in this article deals with states that do not have a cap on medical payments for workers' compensation injuries.

Since insurance companies normally have specific payment systems that may be lower than what a facility can charge workers' comp insurers, will the providers be more likely to find the condition work-related and therefore get more money than if they sent it through the private health insurance?

Bruce Cunha

Manager, Employee Health and Safety

Marshfield Clinic

Marshfield, Wis.

August 1, 2010

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