8:15 – 9:30 Market UpdatePresenter: Mark Mileusnic, Chief Customer Operations Officer, NCCIMr. Mileusnic will present the latest industry performance results and trends, current issues in the U.S. worker’s compensation market, and emerging issues monitored by the NCCI.

9:45 – 12:00 Claims Roundtable discussions Moderator: Cathy Vines, Director Claims Medical Management, SCF ArizonaVarious claims related topics to be discussed in small groups with a brief report-out period. Potential topics: Ethics, recruiting strategies, adjuster training, return-to-work programs, predictive modeling of claims data, cost containment strategies, PPO strategies, compliance audits, benchmarking opportunities, vendor management.

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

AASCIF --- New Orleans October 26-28, 2008Claims & Rehabilitation Workshop Agenda

Monday, October 27 updated 08/15

1:00 - 3:30 Evidence based medicine – ODG and ACOEM Presenters: Dr. Gideon Letz, Medical Officer, State Compensation Insurance Fund and Dr. Nick Tsourmas, Medical Director, Texas Mutual.Drs. Letz and Tsourmas will give the history and the implementation of two separate guides adopted by two different states (California and Texas). Their problems with implementation and solutions will be discussed as well as their projections of what the future holds as to evidence based medicine in the workers’ compensation arena.

3:45 – 4:45 Online Claims and Account ApplicationsPresenter: Ron Moore, Program Manager for Employer Services Department of Labor Industries (Washington)Washington has made major system investments to enhance service for employers. An online mailbox allows claimants, employers and providers to receive secure message; claims data and modeling tools are available online; online premium reporting and payroll service processing have improved billing accuracy; and integrating system changes with usability testing by customers, has significantly improved processes and customer responsiveness for employers.

5:00 Adjourn for fun in New Orleans on your own with friends old and new !

Tuesday, October 28

8:15 – 9:15 Prescription Drugs – Current IssuesPresenter: John Potter, Director Affiliate Services, NCCIMr. Potter will share the results from an updated analysis around trends in the use of prescription drugs, key changes in the marketplace, cost containment efforts, and forecasts of prescription drugs as a critical component of claim costs in the future.

9:15 – 10:00 Initiatives in Narcotic Claim Management Presenter: Kim Haugaard, V.P. Network & Medical Operations, Texas MutualThis session will present an overview of prescription utilization techniques for high cost narcotic drugs, general program outcomes and injured worker issues to consider.

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:00 The Use of Debit Card for Worker’s Indemnity Benefits Presenter: Sharon Smith, JPMorgan Chase Government SolutionsThis session will provide an overview of how debit cards are gaining inpopularity over credit cards, the ease and convenience of providing debit cardsto claimants, including their use post-disaster. The presentation will also provide information on the process and implementation of a debit card program.

11:00 – 12:00 Medicare Set-Aside Update Presenter: Barbara Fairchild, Sr. Account Executive, NuQuest/Bridge PointeThe recent passage of Senate Bill 2499 (entitled the "Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007") significantly impacts the obligations of ALL primary payers to protect Medicare's interests for conditional payments. The penalty for non-compliance is $1000.00 per day, per claim in addition to any other penalties. This presentation will review primary payers current obligations, CMS reporting requirements and practical considerations to assist primary payers to comply with federal statute.

12:00 Adjourn