The Illinois Chamber joined forces with the Illinois Self Insurers Association (ISIA) to host our Annual Workers’ Compensation Conference on Thursday, October 17, 2023, at the Doubletree Hilton in Lisle.
The annual event kicked off with opening remarks from Aaron Harris, Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber’s Employment Law Council and Keith Herman, Executive Director of the Illinois Self-Insurers Association. Gina Rossi, President, Illinois Self-Insurers Association, also welcomed attendees and stressed how crucial this conference is for all Illinois employers.
The first general session of the day was a Case Law Update which detailed updates from Springfield and trends at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Aaron Harris and Jay Shattuck, Michael Best Strategies, went over what has happened in the legislature when it comes to Workers’ Compensation the past year. Aaron and Jay provided valuable insight into what has been coming down the pipeline in Springfield and what is to come in 2024.
Lisa Azoory-Keller and Adam Cox; Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, discussed recent cases that were seen by the Workers’ Compensation Commission. They provided attendees with how the injuries occurred in the workplace and how the case was handled by the Commission. Lisa and Adam stressed the outcome of these cases and explained how these future cases will be settled.
The Illinois Chamber held two breakout sessions mid-morning on a variety of workers’ compensation topics that are affecting employers every day. The workshops were taught by experts in the field of Workers’ Compensation and presented new and existing information for all Illinois employers. Attendees were able to choose which sessions would benefit their employer the most and gather necessary information to take back to their workplace.
Workshop #1 – Guerilla Claims Handling Tactics for Insured Employers
Shawn Biery and John Campbell, attorneys with Keefe Campbell Biery & Associates kicked off our first series of the day. Shawn and John emphasized how crucial it is to be working with your insurance carrier on all claims. If you are communicating appropriately, employers will be able to contain claim costs and help ensure the next year’s premiums are as low as possible. They discussed the questions all employers should be asking their insurance companies as well as best practices on how to handle all claims.
Workshop #2 – Selected Findings From Recent WCRI Research
Kathy Fischer, Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WRCI), spoke on a study conducted by WRCI on how long COVID-19 has affected the Workers’ Compensation system. She discussed what long COVID is, the symptoms, and how much the average claim costs. She mentioned the cost of a long COVID claim depends on how severe the symptoms are and what kind of care is needed by the employee. Kathy explained how important it is for Illinois employers to understand what will cause medical inflation for the future.
Workshop #3 – Illinois Workers’ Compensation Fraud Law and Practice
Norm Burdick, Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie and Lowry, spoke on the different types of fraud when it comes to Workers’ Compensation claims. His presentation focused on how employees can commit fraud and the red flags to look out for. Norm discussed a few case studies concerning workers’ compensation fraud committed by employees and the outcome of the cases by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit (WCFU). He went over how a typical fraud claim investigation from the injury to closure by the WCFU as well as other charges that may be filed by the WCFU.
Workshop #4 – The Impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) on Claims Management
Megan Nelson, Gallagher Bassett Services and Jamie Glanz, March McLennan Agency spoke on how Artificial Intelligence can affect claims management. AI has the potential to change how claims are managed and the amount of time spent completing them. The software is able to process the claims and can flag certain ones that need to be reviewed by a professional. The downside to AI is that it can only analyze the data and does not have a human aspect like a physical employee would have including data privacy. Megan and Jamie’s presentation went over how technology will continue the shape of the future of Workers’ Compensation.
Workshop #5 – McAllister: A Closer Look at the Supreme Court’s 2020 Decision & Its Impact Workshop
AJ Sheehan and Josh Lawson, attorneys with MVP Law discussed McAllister and its impact on future cases. They spoke on how workers’ compensation claims were handled Pre-McAllister and how the case changed the standard for accidents arising out of employment. AJ and Josh discussed case law pre and post McAllister and how it will shape the outcome of future cases.
Workshop #6 – Dialing Down Costs: The Impact of Telephonic Nurse Triage in Workers’ Comp
Sue Baxter-Pflederer, Triune Health Group, spoke during a breakout session on how telephonic nurse triage is able to help lower your costs as well as ensure employees receive the care they need in a timely and efficient manner. Registered nurses are available 24/7 to take injury calls and all medical decisions are made by the medical professionals. Cost savings are available when using nurse triage because they are able to treat minor injuries instead of sending the employee to the emergency room for care.
Workshop #7 – Determining the Source of Pain: Neck vs. Shoulder
Dr. Tom Stanley, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at OrthoIllinois, discussed how to decipher where the pain has originated when it comes to the neck and shoulder. He analyzed how the neck and shoulder work together and how to tell the difference in the injuries. Each injury has a specific treatment plan, so it is imperative to know the difference.
We were honored to welcome Mike Singletary as our keynote speaker for the day. Mike is the President and Founder of Changing Our Perspective as well as NFL Hall of Famer. He shared his experiences on and off the football field and how he has learned to be a leader with his fellow players. Mike shared it can be lonely at times for leaders as they have a high standard to meet, and they may not be able to do what other employees do. His experiences were inspiring and what he learned throughout his career. Mike’s insights were invaluable and gave the attendees suggestions to take back to the office to ensure all employees had equitable opportunities.
Mark Wells, Safety National, analyzed data from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and compared Illinois to surrounding states. The NCCI released that claim frequency decreased by 4% in 2022., but Mark spoke on what they are not seeing. Their data is missing some key industries like public entities and larger employers, and their data is not older than 10 years. He discussed significant cost drivers that will impact workers’ compensation costs for all Illinois Employers.
We heard from the Chairman of the Worker’s Compensation Commission (IWCC), Michael Brennan. Michael spoke on how Workers’ Compensation in Illinois is a 3-billion-dollar industry. The IWCC has implemented “CompFile”, which is an electronic filing system for cases, motions, and decisions. This system has been extensively accepted and continues to meet expectations. Michael ended with an arbitration update and announced that arbitration hearings will continue to be held virtually.
Denise Greathouse, attorney with Michael Best & Friedrich, provided dynamic interactive insight on the pitfalls of FMLA and ADA when it comes to Workers’ Compensation. She stressed that it is essential for all employers to understand how each law applies and their obligations. Denise presented an injury example and provided the proper steps that an employer should take. She ended her presentation with the different types of leave that all employees are entitled to in the State of Illinois.
Our last session of the day was a roundtable discussion on how obesity is driving cost and risk. Our moderator, Parin Chikani, Medical Account Director at Novo Nordisk kicked off the panel discussion. He explained the science behind obesity and how employees may use weight loss drugs to improve their health. Parin stressed what every employer can do to support their employees when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. Our panelists, Christopher Gibbons, attorney with Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie and Lowry along with Marci Rodriguez, Risk Management with UPS participated in a Q&A segment on how obesity has affected employees in their areas of expertise.
We want to give a special thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors. This event would not have been a success without you: Keefe Campbell Biery & Associates, Novo Nordisk, Independence Plus, Safety National, OrthoIllinois, Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie and Lowry, IMX Medical Management Services, MVP Law, Integrity, Custom Case Management, BCM Law, Corvel, Functional Capacity Institute, Vocamotive, Abacus Research, ARCCA, Digistream Investigations, Doctors of Physical Therapy, Illinois ESGR, Illinois State Treasurers Office, Paradigm, Rock Valley Physical Therapy, Social Discovery Corp., Triune Health Group, and Woodlake Medical Management.
