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The National Workers' Compensation and Disability ConferenceŽ & Expo has teamed up with LexisNexis, a leading global provider of content-enabled workflow solutions designed specifically for professionals in the legal, risk management, corporate, government, law enforcement, accounting, and academic markets.

The result is a series of cutting-edge legal sessions led by some of the most highly respected experts in the legal, medical, and workers' comp fields. The sessions in the Legal track include:

• Dr. Marianne Cloeren, medical director for Managed Care Advisors Inc.
• Dr. Thomas Glimp, chief medical officer at Medcor Inc.
• Donna O'Keefe, RN at CSL Behring.
• Rebecca Shafer, JD, president of Amaxx Risk Solutions.
• Moderator: Brad Bleakney, Esq., of Bleakney & Troiani.

A value-added service provided by defense attorneys, legal triage can help reduce employers' costs while improving outcomes for injured workers. The panelists will explain the process of collaboration and communication early in the life of a claim and demonstrate proven methods that can lead to decreased lawyer participation and lower loss runs.

The session will be held Nov. 7 from 10:45 a.m. to noon.

The Future of Exclusive Remedy. The panelists include:

• Albert Betts, Esq., of Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons LLP.
• Kevin L. Connors, Esq., of ConnorsLaw LLP.
• Lex K. Larson, president of Employment Law Research Inc.
• Lawrence J. Pascal, Esq., of Ashcraft & Gerel LLP.
• Moderator: Thomas A. Robinson, JD, a legal author.

The exclusive remedy defense is increasingly being challenged. Specific court cases will be examined as the panelists outline actions that may be undermining the defense and steps to prevent them.

The session will be held Nov. 7 from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Medical Treatment Issues: A Comparison of Jurisdictional Differences. The panelists are:

• Hon. Colleen S. Casey, a workers' compensation administrative law judge.
• Richard M. Jacobsmeyer, Esq., of Shaw, Jacobsmeyer, Crain & Claffey LLP.
• Martin Klug, Esq., of Huck, Howe & Tobin.
• Cassandra Roberts, Esq., of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP.
• Moderator: Robert G. Rassp, Esq., of the Law Office of Robert G. Rassp.

Utilization review has become a cost driver, but there may be unintended consequences such as injured workers seeking medical treatment outside the comp system or retaining legal counsel when utilization review is denied or modified. The panelists will explore jurisdictional variations of utilization review, as well as medical treatment issues.

The session will be held Nov. 7 from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

The Economics of Medicare Set-Asides. The panelists are:

• James J. Kennedy, III, Esq., of Carlton Fields.
• Timothy K. Michels, Esq., chief operations officer, IWIF.
• John P. Scott, CPCU, president of MGU Specialty Risk Services LLC.
• Moderator: Jennifer C. Jordan, Esq., with MEDVAL LLC.

Simply following the method recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to fund Medicare set-asides may not be the best way to go. The panelists will discuss the ramifications of the decisions that contribute to MSAs to achieve the most cost-effective outcomes. They also will outline significant, unrecognized cost drivers and tools to make more successful Medicare Secondary Payer compliance decisions.

The session takes place Nov. 8 from 8:45-10 a.m.

Causation: Medical Versus Legal, Impairment, and Mental Trauma. The panel consists of:

• Stuart Colburn, Esq., of Downs Stanford PC.
• Robert G. Rassp, Esq., of the Law Office of Robert G. Rassp.
• Thomas A. Robinson, JD, a legal author.
• Moderator: Matthew B. Schiff, partner of the firm Schiff & Hulbert.

Medical causation and legal causation are not the same thing. The speakers will examine the differences to enable workers' comp stakeholders to better manage claims. Additionally, they will discuss certain medical conditions and the standards of proof, and review mental/psychiatric injuries and the jurisdictional differences in their treatment.

The session takes place Nov. 8 from 1:15-2:30 p.m.

Employee or Independent Contractor? The Impact of Misclassification. Panelists include:

• Stuart Colburn, Esq., of Downs Stanford PC.
• Robert G. Rassp, Esq., of the Law Office of Robert G. Rassp.
• Thomas A. Robinson, JD, a legal author.
• Moderator: Mark Noonan, managing principal, casualty practice, for Integro Insurance.

Companies that misclassify employees as independent contractors are taking business away from employers that are doing the right thing. Governments are cracking down on the problem. The panelists will reveal the four tests to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor and provide tools for employers to protect themselves.

The session takes place Nov. 8 from 3-4:15 p.m.

The New Mobile Workforce: Solutions to Unique Workers' Comp Challenges. The panelists are:

• Alan S. Pierce, Esq., of Pierce, Pierce & Napolitano.
• Roger A. Levy, Esq., Of Counsel, from Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP, and Levy Mediations.
• Moderator: Stuart Colburn, Esq., of Downs Stanford PC.

The speakers will explore some of the workers' comp issues unique to remote workers and provide strategies for employers to maintain some control over home-based employees.

The session takes place Nov. 9 from 9-10:15 a.m.

The 21st annual National Workers' Compensation and Disability ConferenceŽ & Expo takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 7-9. The conference is produced by LRP Publications.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

June 25, 2012

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