RIMS 2019 is the largest risk event of the year. With 300+ speakers on the schedule, this post contains Workers’ Compensation related sessions that stood out for me.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, April 29, 2019: 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Addressing PTSD at the Workplace

Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) is showing up more frequently at the workplace. The occurrence of school shootings, store robberies and job-related fatalities—as well as assault, domestic violence and accidents—underscore the need to address the issue on a broader basis than you may have in the past. Determine how you can assist employees suffering from PTSD and minimize and mitigate the impact on their safety and productivity and that of those around them.

Learning Objectives:

• Define PTSD in terms of its causes and characteristics
• Explain how an employee might manifest PTSD symptoms at the workplace
• Identify the risks of leaving unmitigated PTSD at the workplace and strategies to help sufferers

Speakers:

Teresa Bartlett

Senior Vice President, Medical Quality

Sedgwick

Denise Algire

Director, Risk Initiatives | National Medical Director

Albertsons Companies

Steve Wiesner

Kaiser Permanente On-the-Job Medical Director-Workers’ Compensation Service

Kaiser Permanente

Monday, April 29, 2019:  1:30 – 2:30 pm

Using Data Analytics to Drive Performance

Transform existing information into action. Take a practical and pragmatic look at the workers’ compensation tools available for data-informed decision making. Identify key sources of data. Look at data analytics and predictive modeling to see how past data can explain what happened and predict the future. Use current data to determine the best action to take now. Address artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation. Improve your decision making and program performance.

Learning Objectives:

• List key data sources and industry resources
• Juxtapose the methods and outcomes of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics
• Choose from advanced technology tools for managing data and information to improve outcomes

Speakers:

George Furlong

Senior Vice President, Managed Care Program Outcomes Analysis

Sedgwick

Jeff Rycroft

Vice President

Express Services, Inc.

Zoe Zinn

Workers’ Compensation Manager

Packaging Corporation of America

Monday, April 29, 2019, 2:35 – 2:55 pm

Medical Marijuana Highs and Lows: Federal and State Challenges

Stay up-to-date on current trends in legislation and regulation of medical marijuana and cannabis programs. Examine the potential implications for workers’ compensation with a focus on how this issue has arisen in California.

Speaker:

Lisa Anne Bickford

Director, Work Comp Gov’t Relations

Coventry

Tuesday, April 30, 2019: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Telemedicine for Workers’ Compensation May Be the Last Frontier

When injured employees need immediate care, do they turn to an emergency room or local health clinic? Take a look at telemedicine as a promising alternative that ensures early treatment and possibly more positive overall outcomes. See how, using a mobile device, injured employees can reach a qualified occupational medicine clinician from home or the worksite. Consider how this technology can improve access to care as part of your efforts to manage injured employees’ health care experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate ways telemedicine can be integrated into your workers’ compensation program
• Extrapolate on telemedicine’s ability to improve care and convenience and reduce lost time
• Highlight the essential elements of an effective telemedicine solution

Speakers:

Ann Schnure

VP of Telemedicine

Concentra

Janine Kral

Vice President Risk Management

Nordstrom, Inc.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019: 11:15 am – 11:35 am

Highly Effective Workers’ Comp Communication Strategies: What to Say and How to Say It

Master tactics that set employee expectations for workers’ compensation through consistent, clear and prioritized communications. Know exactly what to say before and after an injury. Find ways to leverage your workers’ compensation team to create multiple touch points to improve claims outcomes.

Speaker:

Michael Stack

CEO

Amaxx LLC

Tuesday, April 30, 2019: 1:20 pm – 1:40 pm

The Opioid Crisis: How Are States Coping?

Join a cross-country examination of the changes to healthcare and workers’ compensation processes in response to the opioid crisis. Make sure you have the most up-to-date information on compliance rules and can make the necessary adjustments to your injured worker and return-to-work programs.

Speaker:

Joseph Pachman

VP and National Medical Director

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Tuesday, April 30, 2019: 2:10 pm – 2:30 pm

Virtual Reality and Wearables: Alternatives to Pain Medications

Familiarize yourself with the potential future of pain management—a digital pain-reduction kit. Consider the future use and benefits of virtual reality in workers’ compensation. Examine the technologies that could reduce medical costs and prevent injured worker exposure to addictive narcotics.

Speaker:

Richard Ives

Travelers

Tuesday, April 30, 2019: 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Public Entities Industry Session: Risk Management Tactics and Trends

Join members of the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) in a discussion of the biggest risk management issues that public entities face. Explore best practices and trending topics related to workers’ compensation, crisis management, disaster recovery, fleet management, reputational risk, educating elected officials on the importance of risk management and more. Learn to develop solutions for the unique risks and challenges that exist in the public sector.

Learning Objectives:

• Assemble crisis management program building blocks that address exposures and recovery
• Detail ways you can work with community leaders to achieve your risk management goals
• Demonstrate the value in your risk management program

Speakers:

David Demchak

Senior Vice President

Connecticut Interlocal Risk Mgmt. Agency

Raymond Sibley

Director of Risk Management

City and County of Denver

Gary Langsdale

University Risk Officer

Pennsylvania State University

Jane Waters

Insurance Program Administrator

DC Office of Risk Management

Mark Walls

Vice President Communications & Strategic Analysis

Safety National

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2019 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

Living Our Values — The President’s Award

Our claims professionals have critical interactions with clients, injured workers, insureds and business partners on a daily basis. Whether through an email, phone call or in person, every one of these conversations is an opportunity to restore the lives of those affected by losses. Since adjusters and other employees can often be the unsung heroes of the industry, leaders in claims organizations must make a special effort to highlight the contributions and successes, both large and small, of each employee.

Industry First: Drug Trend Report Simulcast: Thursday 4/18 @ 3:00 pm EST

The 2018 myMatrixx Drug Trend Report combines both legacy Express Scripts data and myMatrixx data providing a more comprehensive view of the industry than ever before. In this year’s report our readers will be able to see which drug categories are on the increase as opioid utilization declines. Our industry experts will guide you through the report and answer questions about, “What’s Next?” in the future of Workers’ Compensation.

Tower MSA Partners Presents A Premier Webinar: Leveraging Metrics And Msa Partner Relationship To Settle Claims

On April 24, Tower MSA Partners CEO Rita Wilson and Chief Compliance Officer Dan Anders will host a lively hour-long webinar that explains how to measure the performance of an MSA program and identifies the metrics needed. They also discuss ways to strengthen the payer/provider relationship in order to produce lower allocations on CMS-approved MSAs and quicker claims closures. Discussion points include:

• How to measure your MSA program performance – what metrics should you use?
• MSA drafting and review factors that impact MSA performance
• Implement simple strategies to effectively work with your MSA partner and settle claims
• Make your MSA provider part of your settlement team

What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Your good health has an enemy — atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is common. And its effects can be very serious. This condition can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and death.  But, you can take steps to protect yourself from this disease.

What is atherosclerosis? The inside walls of healthy arteries are smooth and clean. This makes it easy to transport the blood your body needs. But arteries can become clogged. Fatty substances like cholesterol can stick to artery walls. These deposits are called plaque. Plaque can eventually slow or block the flow of blood. This blockage is atherosclerosis.

How to Adjust Your Workspace to Reduce the Risk of Injury

Small inexpensive adjustments you can make to your workspace to increase blood flow and reduce the risk of injury.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2019 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

With more Americans dying from opioid overdoses than car crashes, the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is devoting a session at their upcoming 35th Annual Issues & Research Conference to discussing the latest research and efforts to address the opioid epidemic. The conference is taking place February 28 and March 1, 2019, at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel in Phoenix, AZ.

“The dangers of prescription drug misuse resulting in death and addiction constitute a top public health problem in the United States,” said WCRI CEO John Ruser. “We believe this session, which combines research and what is happening on the ground, will be of great value to our audience.”

During this session, WCRI’s Vennela Thumula will present the Institute’s latest research on correlates of opioid prescribing to injured workers, which can help public officials and other stakeholders better predict which injured workers are more or less likely to receive opioids. Next, Letitia Davis with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will discuss the results from a recent study they published on factors that may contribute to differences in the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths among workers in different industries and occupations. Then, Jacqueline Kurth and Jason Porter of the Industrial Commission of Arizona will discuss efforts taken by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the Commission to address the opioid epidemic in their state.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Breaking Down Barriers to Improve Injured Workers’ Outcomes.” It will feature the latest research from WCRI, engaging sessions on the latest trends, and examples of industry stakeholders coming together to tackle some of the system’s most important challenges. The following are a few of the session titles:

• Challenges and Opportunities of Telemedicine
• From Washington State to Washington, D.C. – a Model for Returning Injured Workers to Work
• Group Health Deductibles and Workers’ Compensation
• Has There Been an Erosion of Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
• How Unions and Management Can Create Successful Return-to-Work/Stay-at-Work Programs
• Moving the Needle: Innovative Employer Ideas

The WCRI conference is a leading workers’ compensation forum for policymakers, employers, labor advocates, insurance executives, health care organizations, claims managers, researchers, and others. Conference participants will leave with new insights, valuable networking contacts, and a better understanding of key issues in today’s competitive environment. To learn more or to register, visit https://conference.wcrinet.org.

The Cambridge-based WCRI is recognized as a leader in providing high-quality, objective information about public policy issues involving workers’ compensation systems.

About WCRI:

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 1983, WCRI has been a catalyst for significant improvements in workers’ compensation systems around the world with its objective, credible, and high-quality research. WCRI’s members include employers; insurers; governmental entities; managed care companies; health care providers; insurance regulators; state labor organizations; and state administrative agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Medcor, Inc., the nation’s leading health navigation firm, announces a new telemedicine service developed specifically for work-related injuries. Medcor Telemed™ will be available 24/7 in all 50 states, beginning January 14, 2019. This new service enhances Medcor’s existing injury triage service, already in use by more than 309,000 worksites, and will augment Medcor’s 240+ onsite and mobile clinics.

Medcor navigates patients to optimal care by using evidence-based medicine, proprietary clinical algorithms, and patented processes. Medcor serves employers across a wide range of industries, including many Fortune 100 and 500 companies, as well as government agencies, TPAs and insurance carriers.

Medcor’s President and CEO Philip Seeger said, “We designed our new service to address the challenges telemedicine faces in occupational health. This service will improve outcomes, reduce costs and provide a positive user experience for patients, their employers and for the treating doctors.” Mr. Seeger added, “Avoiding the conflicts of interest so common in medicine is a tough challenge to address, and it is a cornerstone of all Medcor’s health navigation services.”

Sophisticated algorithms programmed into Medcor’s system identify cases that are appropriate for telemedicine; high-acuity conditions that require in-person care and diagnostics are directed to the appropriate offsite facilities. Identifying the needed level of care saves time and expense. Vice President and General Manager Matt Engels oversees the new service. He said, “Medcor Telemed is an early intervention opportunity to guide low- and moderate-acuity injuries onto the right path to recovery and to jumpstart the claims management process. Our system connects patients to physicians seamlessly with wait times measured in minutes and without advance scheduling. Medcor Telemed is staffed by a team of hundreds of physicians to ensure coverage across all states day and night. Our physicians are trained and experienced in telemedicine and oriented to Medcor’s best practices in occupational health.”

Patients and physicians benefit from Medcor care navigators who stay with the injured worker through the entire telemed process, from registration to resolution. The navigators handle technical and administrative aspects of the session. They document and clarify key workers’ compensation information, such as return-to-work status and restrictions for modified duty. At the end of each session, the navigator facilitates carrying out treatment orders from the physician. The system automatically processes reports for all the stakeholders.

Medcor’s new service operates with a combination of Medcor’s technology and licensed systems. It works on desktop computers, tablets and smart phone apps, which can be downloaded at the time of service. Medcor has already provided more than 2.5 million injury triage and other telehealth visits, which represent a solid foundation of experience for its new telemed service.

For more information, watch the short video at this link https://youtu.be/CTUT5QeoQIg/, contact media@medcor.com or call 815-759-5442.

After Traumatic Injury, Workers’ Comp Thrives with This Return-to-Work Strategy

A workplace accident can leave a worker with a spinal cord injury, an amputation, severe burns or a brain injury, turning their world upside-down. The physical toll is obvious if a worker is missing a limb or immobile. But the psychological hurdles often are hidden.

Recovery can be fraught with emotions, fear and anger among them. This complicated tangle — and the way a person handles it — can reduce the odds that a person will ever re-enter the workforce.

Facetime With Phil — All About NSAIDS — A Category Of Drugs That Can Be Used To Treat Pain

All NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) cause side effects to a certain degree. It is important for a prescriber to look at a patient holistically in determining what version of the drug is right for them. Join myMatrixx Chief Clinical Officer Phil Walls in his discussion all about NSAIDs, which takes a deeper dive into these type of drugs and how to determine what is the best choice for an injured worker.

Ringler Radio: Inside the Post-Settlement Process

The post-settlement process can be complex, especially when it comes to medical care for injured parties and their families. Finding a reliable team of people to make the process seamless is key. RinglerRadio host, Larry Cohen with Porter Leslie, President of Ametros, and Attorney Paolo Longo, Jr., a partner in the Orlando office of Bichler, Oliver, Longo & Fox, discuss how to simplify ongoing medical expenses and ease the hassle of the healthcare system.

Tower MSA Partners’ focuses its WCI-TV segments on settling claims

For the fourth consecutive year, Tower MSA Partners is sponsoring WCI-TV, the televised coverage of WCI 2018. “Our theme this year is ‘Knocking Down Barriers to the Settlement of Claims,’” said Dan Anders, Tower’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Unreasonably high pharmacy costs, inappropriate use of opioids and other drugs, vague references to possible future surgeries, and jurisdictional challenges pose some of the common obstacles to settling claims. In other cases, injured workers are afraid of exhausting their settlement dollars or losing the support of their adjuster or nurse case manager.

Dehydration and Heat Stroke

Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be life-threatening if left untreated. What is dehydration? Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease. It is also a dangerous side effect of diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Children and people over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration. What causes dehydration? Under normal conditions, we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears, breathing, urine, and stool. In a healthy person, this water is replaced by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2018 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

Chicago-based Medcor, Inc., the leading health navigation firm, has acquired San Francisco-based Talisman Systems Group, Inc., the leading provider of network management services for workers’ compensation and other industries. Talisman will operate as an independent subsidiary of Medcor, retaining its leadership and TalisPoint brand and will remain based in San Francisco.

Medcor navigates patients to optimal care through onsite clinics and virtual health services, using evidence-based medicine, proprietary clinical systems and patented processes. Medcor clients include employers from a wide range of industries and insurance carriers. The TalisPoint system validates, updates and manages network data and produces referral documents for insurance carriers, claims administrators, provider networks and employers.

Through this acquisition, Medcor expands its innovative health navigation services. These begin with rapid, convenient access to health assessment at the onset of symptoms or injury, followed by guidance to appropriate care. Often, Medcor can provide the care directly or guide patients in self-care. When referrals into the healthcare system are necessary, Medcor’s systems help ensure patients receive the care they need and avoid overtreatment and unnecessary costs. Sophisticated algorithms help Medcor identify serious cases quickly. TalisPoint data helps connect patients with the right provider in the proper network to improve clinical and financial outcomes.

Medcor President and CEO Philip Seeger explained, “We are combining two best-in-class businesses whose services are very complementary to one another. This is a powerful way to bring more value to our clients; the fact that we already have mutual clients shows that our customers have independently come to the same conclusion. The high-quality network information that TalisPoint provides will help us more efficiently navigate patients to the right place, at the right time, to receive the right level of care.”

Talisman President and CEO Monique Barkett said, “TalisPoint allows for fast, accurate and up-to-date access of vendors and medical networks. This facilitates Medcor’s service delivery by providing person-specific information and pinpointing the exact facility and provider called for by Medcor’s care protocols. To stay at the forefront of our industry, we prioritize innovation to ensure our systems will continue to be best-in-class in the years to come. With Medcor, Talisman now has a proven information technology partner to help us develop the next generation of TalisPoint.”

The two companies share reputations for transparency, high customer service, and operating without conflicts of interest. For more information, watch the short video at this link https://youtu.be/AvAFzJJqjSI, contact media@medcor.com or call 815-759-5442.

Medcor operates 240 clinics at or near client worksites and provides virtual health services to over 309,000 worksites throughout the United States and Canada. Medcor serves clients across a wide range of industries, including private firms and government agencies. Medcor helps employers and patients navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better clinical and financial outcomes. Learn more at medcor.com.

Talisman’s core product, TalisPoint, offers web-based customized network management tools to assist users in selecting medical providers and other vendor types. Access to verified provider data is a key to effective communication between patients, providers and employers. Learn more at talispoint.com.

The Intersection of Medicine and Disability: A Doctor’s View

Whether we are a health care practitioner, an employer or a claims professional, disability is something we deal with on a daily basis. What are the nuances of a disability claim and how can the roles and responsibilities within these claims be better understood?

Dr. Iglesias breaks down what goes into a disability determination and how employers, claims administrators, and physicians can make better and more timely disability determinations that will benefit all the stakeholders in a disability claim.

Facetime With Phil — Introduction To Analgesics

What are the different drugs available and how does a prescriber make a choice? Join myMatrixx Chief Clinical Officer Phil Walls as he begins a discussion on Analgesics. In this vlog, Phil covers the basics on this topic and begins a deeper dive into the treatment of pain management.

Dan Anders: Building a Better Relationship with your MSA Vendor

Let’s face it. When you realize that settlement of a workers’ compensation claim will require a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) you may let out an audible groan or even a choice profanity. An MSA will no doubt add cost and time to settlement of a claim. This is why it is so important to partner with a Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance vendor that can effectively work with you to limit those costs and reduce the time involved with the MSA to the greatest extent possible while still ensuring you are compliant with Medicare requirements.

Opioid Litigation Update

Two-thirds of the deaths from drug overdoses in the U.S. involve opioids. This has been declared a crisis in America. On this Ringler Radio podcast, host Larry Cohen and co-host, Heather Anderson discuss how the Beasley Allen law firm’s attorney Rhon Jones is joining forces with the Attorney General of Alabama in litigation to put a halt to this devastating crisis that touches so many lives today.

Workers’ Compensation Cost Reduction Starts with Better Medical Care

Seek the best possible care for employees with workers’ compensation injuries, because better care will result in fewer treatments and ultimately lower costs. So said Margaret Spence, president and CEO of C. Douglas & Associates in West Palm Beach, Fla., during a June 20 concurrent session at the SHRM 2017 Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans. Spence recalled one employer in the panhandle of Oklahoma whose workers were told they had to use doctors in the rural area. When Spence got involved with the handling of the firms’ workers’ compensation claims, the company concluded that the doctors in that area were less qualified and every employee was sent to Oklahoma City for treatment.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2018 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

Artemis Emslie Joins Ametros’ Board of Directors

Artemis Emslie has become an independent member of the board of directors of Ametros. As a highly regarded thought leader in the industry, she will provide strategic insight and guidance for the company to ensure products and services align with the company’s overall vision.

“We are very excited to have Artemis on the board,” said Marques Torbert, the CEO of Ametros. “Her experience as a senior leader of a fast-growing and successful company in our space gives her a unique perspective to add to our board.”

5 Easy Steps to Foster Loyalty and Positive Culture

Developing a positive culture and inspiring loyalty requires a delicate and sometimes complicated balance between intentional interventions and behavioral modifications. In a day and time when the word loyalty has somewhat lost its meaning, maintaining a high retention rate and creating a positive work environment is critical and complicated.

Creation of a positive working culture, and the ever-elusive loyalty, requires leaders that are sincere, heartfelt and real. The best leaders are able to effectively communicate with the generational spectrum and inspire loyalty through their approachability, their communication style and their interaction at a guttural level.

Don’t Get Taken Advantage of by Medicare Advantage

If the title of this article has drawn you in, then you likely are somehow touched by Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance, whether as an attorney representing a claimant or carrier or claims professional working with no-fault, workers’ compensation or liability claim. The question going through your mind is what has Medicare come up with now to make my job more difficult?

Indeed, MSP compliance has significantly expanded over the last 17 years. Since the advent of the Medicare Set-Aside review process in 2001, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has added policies and contractors to its enforcement mechanisms under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. MSAs led to an extensive growth in CMS’s Medicare conditional payment recovery efforts, including the 2010 launch of Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting for liability, no-fault and workers’ compensation insurance.

Facetime with Phil – Generic Substitution

Generic substitution is one of the most effective strategies you can implement to maximize drug savings. It is the job of myMatrixx to monitor and develop strategies to ensure you are not exposed to the unnecessary cost of a brand name prescription. Join myMatrixx Chief Clinical Officer Phil Walls in his final vlog of a five-part series regarding drug prices vs. drug costs. In this vlog, Phil talks about the various marketing strategies that brand name companies are using to maintain market share.

Fresno jury says Chipotle owes former manager $7.97 million for wrongful termination

For years, Jeanette Ortiz was a loyal, hardworking general manager for Chipotle Mexican Grill on Shaw Avenue across from the Fresno State campus. But in January 2015, Ortiz was fired, accused of stealing $626 in cash from the restaurant’s safe, said a lawyer for Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. There was even video evidence to prove Ortiz’s theft, the lawyer said.

But when Ortiz denied stealing the money and asked to see the video evidence, her bosses at Chipotle declined. Instead, the company destroyed the video evidence, said Fresno attorneys Warren Paboojian and Jason Bell, who represent Ortiz in a wrongful termination case she brought against the fast-food giant.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2018 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

Mentoring Millennials Is Key

by Neil Lentine, President of Broadspire USA.

As a Baby Boomer, it has been an interesting process learning to interact with millennials who are just getting started in their careers.

I’ve had to keep in mind that the millennials have been shaped by social networks, where everyone is perceived to be on equal footing and immediate feedback is constantly sought. Growing up in the dawn of the digital age, their view of the world is, in many ways different than my own, so learning where they’re coming from is important to help guide them in a direction where they can be successful.

Rapid Advances In Technology Outpacing Risk Management: Marsh/Rims

Emerging technologies continue to rapidly change the way businesses operate and interact with customers, yet risk management processes are not keeping pace with the associated risks, according to a new report published today by Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions, and RIMS, the risk management society™.

The 15th Annual Excellence in Risk Management report delves into risk professionals’ knowledge of and role in managing technology innovation such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). According to the findings, 59% of respondents said their organizations are currently using or exploring the use of IoT systems; 47% are using or exploring the use of AI; and 24% are using or exploring the use of blockchain. Despite the growth, only 14% said they strongly believe they have a clear process in place for addressing disruptive technology risks. Nearly half could not say there was a clear process at all.

Force Behind Industry’s First Cost of Risk Survey Berry Griffin, Jr. Inducted into The Risk Management Hall Of Fame

RIMS, the risk management society™, and American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced Berry Griffin, Jr. as the 2018 inductee into the Risk Management Hall of Fame (RMHF).  The RMHF serves as a means to maintain the history of the field of risk management and recognizes risk practitioners who have made significant contributions to advancing the discipline. Mr. Griffin was officially inducted at RIMS 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio.

RIMS 2018 Awards & Honors

RIMS, the risk management society™, today announced the winners of its series of industry awards presented during RIMS 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition Awards Luncheon in San Antonio.

RIMS’ most prestigious honor, the Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award, was presented to Ward Ching, Managing Director, Western Region at Aon Global Risk Consulting. Named in honor of RIMS’ first president, the award pays tribute to an individual who has furthered the goals of the Society and the risk management discipline through outstanding service and achievement.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Wins 2018 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge

At the Spencer Educational Foundation reception, case-study provider Andrew Bent, risk manager at Sage Group plc announced University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) student team as the winners of the 2018 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge. The team, comprised of four risk management students, competed against 26 other universities and delivered the award-winning risk management presentation in front industry leaders at RIMS 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2018 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

RIMS Conference 2018: Go Big

RIMS 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition is the premier event for the risk management community. If you have risk management responsibilities, GO BIG and join us in San Antonio this April. In the spirit of going BIG, we’re offering four new diversity and inclusion opportunities to ensure that everyone feels included and understood at RIMS 2018.  Learn more & register.

Alex Sheen to Deliver RIMS 2018 Opening Keynote

Alex Sheen is the founder of because I said I would, a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept. Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost. Alex is someone who truly honors commitment. He once walked over 240 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to fulfill a promise. Since his father’s passing on September 4, 2012, because I said I would has sent over 4.47 million promise cards to over 150 countries. His charitable projects and awareness campaigns have been featured on ABC World News, CBS Nightly News, Fox News, The Today Show, Good Morning America and many other programs.

Booth 1426: Medcor Trailblazing Healthcare: Meet Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Jacobs Crawly

Medcor embodies the same entrepreneurial spirit held by the pioneers of the west. Visit Medcor and find out how we can chart a new path to better health outcomes for your workforce. Visit us at booth #1426 at RIMS 2018, April 16th through the 18th and meet champion saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley.

Booth 1417: Crawford / Broadspire / WeGoLook: Wanted – Open Claims with No End in Site

Learn about software, analytics, and strategic plans of action to quickly identify identify and neutralize issues that delay claim closure.

RIMS Community Service – Soldier Angels

Soldiers’ Angels provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families and a growing veteran population. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, Soldiers’ Angels has grown from a grassroots effort to a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. One of the largest nonprofits dedicated to supporting our military, Soldiers’ Angels has provided over $100 million in aid to service members and their families through care packages, food assistance and support items to patients in VA hospitals. The nonprofit coordinates over 150,000 volunteer hours each year.

RIMS Thought Leader Theater

The RIMS Thought Leader Theater (TLT) offers attendees additional education through a series of succinct, interactive discussions on a variety of topics. Visit RIMS HQ in the Marketplace to hear these high-speed 20-minute presentations not offered at any other time during the conference.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

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