This 2012 National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference® and Expo Nov. 7 – 9 in Las Vegas promises to again be monumental for our industry.
The 21st annual conference promises to further develop analysis about the opioid crisis and will again offer regional breakout sessions. And, the expo portion will host more than 260 exhibitors.
Among the highlights will be:
- A pre-conference symposium on Workers’ Compensation Essentials for Executives and Risk Professionals.
- The opening session, titled, “Intriguing Insights: Leaders Debate Solutions to Industry’s Top Challenges” will be moderated by Mark Walls, vice president of Claims, Safety National and include remarks from Dr. Jennifer Christian, founder of the Maze-Masters Program and president of Webility Corp.; Jill Dulich, senior director, Marriott Claims Services; Maureen Gallagher, managing director of Neace Lukens; John Leonard, president and CEO, Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company; Dave North, CEO, Sedgwick CMS; William Zachry, vice president of risk management, Safeway Inc. The speakers will share what they think are the best solutions to two of the biggest challenges in the workers’ compensation/disability systems, to be determined pre-conference by a poll of the 15,000-member WorkCompAnalysis Group on LinkedIn.
- An awards luncheon featuring the winners of Risk & Insurance® magazine’s 2012 Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Awards and entertainment by magic/science entertainer Craig Karges.
- A conference breakdown into five regions including California and dealing with “Regional Conflicts: Drilling Down to Unique Issues.” These sessions acknowledge that “The industry’s greatest challenges vary widely depending on the region of the country. While California struggles with liens, the Northeast deals with the shift from a manufacturing to a technology-based workforce – creating return-to-work nightmares. Many Midwestern states are focused on reforms to attract business; Western states are questioning the dominance of quasi-state insurers; and the Southeast battles opioid trafficking.” The sessions will be led by representatives for the employer, carriers and third-party administrators.
- You can track your conference experience by choosing one of the following four tracks: Better Claims Management, Health/Medical Management, Solving Legal/Regulatory Issues, or Opioid Solutions. Some examples of sessions include: “Return-to-Work: Has Yesterday’s Asset Become Today’s Liability?”; “Building a Better Medical Network”; and “Employee or Independent Contractor? The Impact of Misclassification.”
Why Attend this Conference
The workers’ compensation industry is always evolving – new players, new laws and new equipment. Everyone new to this industry should attend either the RIMS or the NWCD conference and learn new techniques, meet new vendors, and discover the latest service enhancements.
A conference of this scale can help you expand your professional network while increasing your knowledge and gaining new solutions directly related to:
- Workers’ compensation
- Disability management
- Return-to-work programs
- The opioid crisis
- Regional differences sessions
The 2012 National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference® and Expo Nov. 7-9 in Las Vegas is the nation’s leading event for anyone involved in the workers’ comp and disability management industries. Thanks to a partnership with LexisNexis, the 2012 event features an enhanced legal track for attorneys and non-attorneys alike. A full list of Program tracks for this year include: Better Claims Management, Health/Medical Management, Solving Legal/Regulatory Issues, or Opioid Solutions.
13 Tips to Get the Most Out of the National Conference:
- Attend the Opening Session. Don’t miss this because top industry executives will debate solutions to the nation’s greatest Workers’ Comp challenges.
- Focus on specific goals. For example, sessions about your region or attracting business if those are issue specific to your role. Use the 2012 Mobile App to plan which sessions you want to attend.
- Read the brochures when you return home to learn about service providers.
- Pass out your business card andnetwork, network, network. Meeting knowledgeable people gives you a resource when you encounter a problem. The conference offers ample opportunities for networking including a networking Reception and Closing Social as well as numerous meals and refreshment breaks.
- Learn what you don’t know. Being exposed tonew ideas presents an opportunity to learn things you don’t even know you are missing!
- Chat with people who do the same things that you do and see where you differ. At this conference, everybody’s badge includes their title and organization. It’s easy to identify other attendee’s who havesimilar roles in different organizations.
- Ask aboutkey cost drivers. Attendees come from organizations of varying industries. Find people who work in workers’ compensation departments you know next to nothing about and ask them whether they are satisfied with their workers’ comp vendors. Ask them what drives their costs.
- Roam through the exhibit hall speaking to vendors and learning about the types of services that are available to reduce workers’ comp costs. NWCDC is the nation’s largest Expo of this kind. THIS will be the best education you will ever get!
- Wear comfortable attire. Bring comfortable shoes. The first day, people are a bit more dressed up than the following days. The last day is more casual because people are traveling back home. Definitely dress professionally because some of the people you meet with become lifelong contacts, so making a good impression is important, but you can be comfortable, too. For an ounce of prevention, bring moleskin to protect the areas of your feet most likely to get blisters.
- Attend both the exhibit hall and the educational sessions.
- Start early, leave late, and remember … although your feet may hurt, this is a once-a-year event!
- Before the exhibit hall opens,join the group breakfast to network with new friends. You will find people are very friendly and helpful.
- Keep your Show Guide for future reference. You may want to have this handy on your desk for the time you want to try a new service or ask a question about a new service. Or, if you are putting out a request for proposals, this will be your ultimate list of those companies to bid on your project.
See you there!
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Editor Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
